North Carolina: ACA Medicaid expansion reaches 346K

via the North Carolina Dept. of Health & Human Services:

NC Medicaid Expansion Continues to Bring Health Care to More North Carolinians

PRESS RELEASE — As of Feb. 1, 2024, 346,408 newly eligible North Carolinians are enrolled in Medicaid and now have access to comprehensive health care, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard. NCDHHS released an updated the dashboard today, and it includes enrollment data as of Feb. 1, 2024. This number is more than half of the anticipated 600,000 people who are newly eligible for coverage, expected to enroll in Medicaid expansion over the next two years.

"In the first two months we have already enrolled over half of the eligible people," said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "These individuals and families are seeing providers, utilizing preventative and specialty care, and getting life-saving prescriptions."

Enrolled North Carolinians have also started to access the medicines and care they need through Medicaid Expansion. Medicaid covered more than 265,000 prescriptions for new enrollees for things like heart health, diabetes, seizures and other illnesses and covered more than $4.8 million in claims for dental services since Dec. 1, 2023. 

Through the combined efforts of NCDHHS, as well as county health departments and local departments of social services, North Carolina enrolls more than 1,000 people into Medicaid expansion per day. 

At that rate, NC will hit 600K by right around Election Day, although obviously it may not actually reach every eligible resident; according to KFF, over 7 million uninsured Americans are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP but haven't enrolled in either program for one reason or another.

"We launched Medicaid Expansion in record time and are now enrolling people faster than other states," said NC Medicaid Deputy Secretary Jay Ludlam. "Our community partners have been key in connecting directly with communities, getting the word out, and helping make sure that people are getting the coverage and care that is right for them."

Many people who have enrolled through Medicaid expansion are young adults, work part or full-time, and/or live in rural areas. Nearly one in three new enrollees are between 19 and 29 years old, and disproportionately live in rural communities. Anson, Edgecombe, Richmond, Robeson and Swain counties have the highest enrollment rates to date.

NCDHHS’ Medicaid Expansion portal includes information on eligibility, FAQs, how to apply and a sign-up form to receive the latest news and updates. To learn more or apply for NC Medicaid, visit Medicaid.nc.gov.