RALEIGH, NC – August 5, 2024 – The latest update of the NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard was on August 5th. July enrollment in NC increased by more than 20 thousand to more than 520 thousand people. Buncombe County’s July enrollment increased by more than 350 people to more than 12.5 thousand. It was estimated that 600 thousand North Carolinians are eligible for ME, with almost 17 thousand from Buncombe County. In 8 months of accepting applications, the state is more than 85% of the way to enrolling all eligible persons and Buncombe County is almost 75% of the way there.
On December 1st, North Carolina officially became the 40th state to expand Medicaid, the federal program for health insurance for low-resource individuals. ME increases health care access to eligible North Carolinians ages 19-64 and their families with earnings to 138 percent of the federal poverty level based on their household size, up from 100 percent.
There are many ways to apply for NC Medicaid for eligible persons. Those who have not yet applied should visit Medicaid.nc.gov to see if they qualify. Buncombe County residents can apply for Medicaid online and at any time at ePASS.NC.gov. Applications can be done in-person at the HHS Building on 40 Coxe Avenue, by calling 828-250-5500, or by mail.
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Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org