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

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

• 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 tracking and their spouse, child, sibling or

parent or individuals with a pending application for a

victim of tracking visa

(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 tracking, Cuban-Haitian Entrants, and people

who now have LPR status and who were previously asylees,

refugees, victims of tracking, 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:

• 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

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 aect your immigration

status or your immigration application. Only three benefits are

considered negatively if you are submitting an immigration

have no impact on any immigration application you file. For

more information on public charge, read this informational

flyer from the NC Justice Center.

Are undocumented immigrants eligible for Medicaid?

Undocumented immigrants are eligible for emergency

Medicaid. However, undocumented immigrants are not

eligible to enroll in federally funded health coverage including

full Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare, or to purchase coverage

through the Health Care Marketplace (ACA). Undocumented

immigrants are only potentially eligible for emergency

a utility bill, a lease or documentation of employment).

Undocumented non-U.S. citizens who do not qualify for full

health coverage under Medicaid may be able to get coverage

for emergency medical services. North Carolina has a state

emergency medical review contractor who determines if the

incident is a medical emergency and determines the dates

that Medicaid could cover. The coverage is limited to certain

dates, beginning with the date the medical emergency occurs

and ending with the date the medical emergency is stabilized.

For example, when someone is in a car accident and are taken

• Parents who do not have a valid immigration status, are

eligible for emergency services only.

• Their children may be eligible for full Medicaid if they

have a qualified immigration status. This is true even if

their parents do not have qualified immigration status.

If only one family member is applying for insurance or

assistance, only the applicant(s) must provide immigration

status information or their social security number. Other

family members who are not applying do not have to provide

immigration information.

eligibility along with a signed application. Parents do not

need to give immigration information or a social security

for themselves. Medicaid does not report any information to

law enforcement or ICE.

Can people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) apply

for Medicaid?

No, people with TPS cannot apply for full health coverage

through Medicaid. However, they may be eligible for

emergency Medicaid as long as they meet the income and

North Carolina state residence eligibility requirements.

Pregnant women and children under 19 with TPS are

eligible to apply for Medicaid if they meet all other eligibility

People with TPS can apply for coverage and help paying for

insurance under the Health Care Marketplace (ACA).

Can Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

recipients get Medicaid?

Medicaid Services (CMS), people with Deferred Action for

Childhood Arrivals status are not considered lawfully present

for purposes of health coverage eligibility. People with DACA

are eligible for emergency Medicaid services when needed.

Are farmworkers with an H-2A visa eligible for Medicaid?

Farmworkers with a lawfully present status are potentially

eligible if they are a pregnant woman or child under age 19. All