NC Medicaid now covers people ages 19 through 64
with higher incomes. You may be able to get health care
coverage through Medicaid even if you did not qualify
before. Medicaid pays for doctor visits, yearly check-ups,
emergency care, dental care, mental health and more – at
little or no cost to you.
As of December 1, 2023, most people can get health care
coverage through NC Medicaid if:
• You live in North Carolina
• You are ages 19 through 64
• You are a citizen (some non-U.S. citizens can also get
health care coverage through Medicaid).
• And if your household monthly income falls within
the chart below:
Household Size 2024 Monthly Income*
Single Adults $1,732 or less
Family of 2 $2,351 or less
Family of 3 $2,970 or less
Family of 4 $3,588 or less
Family of 5 $4,207 or less
Family of 6 $4,826 or less
*Income limits are updated annually.
Some non-U.S. citizens can get health coverage through
Medicaid. To be eligible you must live in North Carolina and
be a non-citizen with qualified immigration status. Many
people in this category must wait five years before they can
apply for Medicaid (although there are some exceptions, as
explained below).
Qualified immigration status includes:
• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR/Green Card Holder)
• Asylees
• Refugees
• Cuban/Haitian entrants
• Paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
• Conditional entrant granted before 1980
• Battered non-citizens, spouses, children or parents
(“Battered” means someone who has experienced
abuse from a family member.)
• Victims of tracking and their spouse, child, sibling or
parent or individuals with a pending application for a
victim of tracking visa
• Granted withholding of deportation (a specific situation
similar to asylum)
• Noncitizen members of a federally recognized Indian
tribe or American Indian born in Canada
• Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau
who are living in one of the U.S. states or territories
(referred to as Compact of Free Association or
COFA migrants)
Some of the non-U.S citizens on the list above do NOT have
to wait 5 years to be eligible for Medicaid, including pregnant
women, children under the age of 19, asylees, refugees,
victims of tracking, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, and people
who now have LPR status and who were previously asylees,
refugees, victims of tracking, or Cuban-Haitian entrants.
Also, all non-citizens from the list above who are connected
to the military such as veterans, active-duty military (and
their spouses and children) do not have to wait five years for
Medicaid eligibility. All other non-citizens in the list above
must wait five years from the time of receiving their qualified
immigration status to be eligible for Medicaid.
If none of the qualified immigration statuses listed above
apply to you:
If you are not a U.S. citizen or part of these immigration
categories, but you would otherwise qualify for NC Medicaid,
you may still apply to get emergency coverage that includes:
• Payment for the costs of childbirth. Get coverage for
medical costs during labor and delivery. You can apply
up to three months after birth.
• Payment for emergency services. Get coverage for the
medical costs of treating an emergency, like a heart
attack, stroke, or serious accident. You can apply up to
three months after the emergency.
To get this emergency coverage, apply for NC Medicaid as
normal — but you do not need to show documentation or
answer questions about your immigration status.
Can my information be shared for immigration enforcement?
Medicaid does not report any information to law enforcement
or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Your
information will be kept private and confidential. This
includes information for your family members with dierent
immigration statuses. Your information cannot be used for
immigration enforcement purposes.
You only need to provide immigration status or Social
Security numbers for family members who are applying
for coverage. For instance, a parent who is not an eligible
immigrant could apply on behalf of a child who is eligible.
The parent would not need to provide their own immigration
status. For more information on health insurance eligibility for
immigrants, read this brochure from the NC Justice Center.
Is applying or receiving Medicaid considered public charge?
No. Applying for or receiving Medicaid does not make
someone a “public charge”. It will not aect your immigration
status or your immigration application. Only three benefits are
considered negatively if you are submitting an immigration
application: Supplementary Security Income (SSI), Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Medicaid only if
used for long-term hospitalization or nursing home care.
Immigration Status and Eligibility
for Medicaid Expansion