How Medicaid Offices Are Organized in North Carolina
Medicaid in North Carolina is a partnership between the state and its 100 counties. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) sets policy, pays providers and contracts with health plans. Its Division of Health Benefits runs the program under the name NC Medicaid. The person who reviews your application and decides whether you qualify, however, is usually a caseworker at your county department of social services (DSS).
That split explains what you see in our directory. The seven Medicaid Office listings for the state sit in county seats and government complexes, not in one central state building. Raleigh, Mocksville, Statesville, Whiteville, Weldon and Halifax each appear because a local office operates there. If you live in one of those counties, the nearest listing may be your actual case office. If you live elsewhere, your own county DSS handles your file.
Other organizations also help people reach the program. Hospitals, community health centers and many clinics employ enrollment staff who can help you fill out an application. They can submit paperwork on your behalf, but the eligibility decision still comes from the county or the state.
Because the county holds your case, you generally apply in the county where you live. If you move within North Carolina, report your new address promptly so the file can transfer. Missing mail after a move is one of the most common reasons people lose coverage.
Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina: Who Can Apply Now
North Carolina began covering more adults on December 1, 2023, when Medicaid expansion took effect. Adults aged 19 through 64 can now qualify if household income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. They do not need to have children at home or a disability. Before expansion, many low-wage workers in the state fell into a coverage gap. They earned too little for marketplace subsidies but did not fit an older Medicaid category.
Other groups remain covered under long-standing rules:
- Children and pregnant women, who have their own income limits.
- Parents and caretaker relatives living with a child.
- People who are blind or have a disability.
- Adults 65 and older, including those who need nursing home or home-based long-term care.
Income limits change each year with the federal poverty guidelines, so confirm current figures with NC Medicaid or your county DSS rather than trusting an old number. For most children, parents and expansion adults, the state counts household income by family size. For older adult and disability categories, rules can also include limits on savings and property. Long-term care applications can include a review of past transfers of assets, so ask a caseworker early if that applies to you.
You must live in North Carolina and be a U.S. citizen or have a qualifying immigration status to receive full benefits. Emergency Medicaid may cover certain people who do not meet immigration requirements, but only for qualifying emergency conditions.
Raleigh, Halifax and Davie: City Offices Versus Rural Counties
Wake County, home to the state capital, has two listings in our database. The Raleigh NC Medicaid Office is at 5505 Creedmoor Road (919-881-2320). The Raleigh North Carolina Medicaid Office is on Picot Drive (919-855-4000). Wake serves a large and growing population, so caseloads are heavy and many residents start with the online application. Call the number before you travel, because the two locations may handle different services or walk-in hours. The Wake County page has more local detail.
Halifax County shows the rural pattern. Our database lists the Halifax North Carolina Medicaid Office at 4421 U.S. 301 in Halifax (252-536-6515) and the Weldon North Carolina Medicaid Office at 3 East 1st Street in Weldon (252-536-2511). Two listings in one county reflect the long distances common in northeastern North Carolina. If you do not have a car, ask about Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation, which county DSS offices help arrange for covered medical visits. You can also see the Halifax County page for both locations side by side.
In the Piedmont, the Mocksville North Carolina Medicaid Office is at 228 Hospital Street (336-751-8850). Mocksville is the county seat of Davie County, and in a county with a single listing, that office is the natural place to start. See the Davie County page for details.
The practical difference between metro and rural counties is rarely the rules, because eligibility standards are the same statewide. The difference is access. Urban residents often have several offices and more transit options. Rural residents may rely more on phone and online services, mail, and scheduled appointments.
Applying for North Carolina Medicaid: Methods and Documents
You have four ways to apply, and none of them requires you to wait in a line:
- Online: Use ePASS, the state's benefits portal, where you can apply and later check your case.
- By phone: Call the NC Medicaid contact center or your county DSS and ask to apply.
- In person: Visit your county DSS office during weekday business hours.
- By mail or fax: Send a completed application to your county DSS.
Gather these items before you start, since missing paperwork causes most delays:
- Photo identification for adult applicants.
- Social Security numbers for everyone applying, where they have one.
- Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, a benefit letter or a tax return if self-employed.
- Proof of North Carolina residency, such as a lease or utility bill.
- Immigration documents for non-citizens applying for benefits.
- Information about current health insurance, if any.
Applicants who are 65 or older, or who have a disability, may also need bank statements and records about property or life insurance. If you cannot find a document, tell the caseworker. They can often verify information through other sources or give you extra time.
After Approval: Health Plans, Renewals and Reporting Changes
Most North Carolina Medicaid members receive care through managed care, which began statewide on July 1, 2021. You choose from Standard Plans offered by health insurers contracted with the state, such as AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina, Healthy Blue, Carolina Complete Health, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and WellCare of North Carolina. Each plan has its own network of doctors and pharmacies, so check that your providers participate before you pick. Tailored Plans, launched on July 1, 2024, serve people with significant behavioral health needs or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some groups remain in traditional NC Medicaid, also called NC Medicaid Direct.
Coverage is not permanent. The state reviews eligibility at least once a year, and your county will mail a renewal notice. Answer by the deadline on the notice, even if you think nothing has changed. Also report changes in income, household size or address within the time your notice states. A county office can update these changes by phone, and acting early prevents interruptions that leave you paying for care out of pocket.
Medicaid in North Carolina is administered by the state health and human services agency, providing health coverage for eligible low-income residents through a combination of fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems tailored to the state's population needs.
Medicaid Office locations are available in 6 cities across North Carolina. They are spread across 5 counties.
Cities with the highest concentration include Raleigh, Halifax, Whiteville, which have the largest Medicaid caseloads in the state and dedicated eligibility offices to serve high-need urban populations.
Residents of North Carolina can apply for Medicaid online through the state's health benefits portal or health exchange, by calling the Medicaid agency's toll-free number, or by visiting a local eligibility office with the required documentation.
Halifax North Carolina Medicaid Office
Mocksville North Carolina Medicaid Office
Raleigh Nc Medicaid Office
Raleigh North Carolina Medicaid Office
Statesville North Carolina Medicaid Office
Weldon North Carolina Medicaid Office
Whiteville North Carolina Medicaid Office
Residents of North Carolina who currently receive Medicaid should complete their annual renewal on time to avoid a gap in coverage. Most states send renewal notices by mail and email, and online renewal is typically the fastest method to maintain uninterrupted healthcare coverage.
Browse Medicaid Office by county across North Carolina to find the nearest location.
Visiting a County Medicaid Office in North Carolina: Practical Tips
County offices in North Carolina are public buildings that handle many programs besides Medicaid, including food assistance, child welfare and adult services. Expect security screening and a waiting area shared with other visitors. Offices are generally open on weekdays during business hours, but exact hours and appointment rules vary by county, so call the listed number before you go.
Eastern and southern counties often cover a lot of ground. The Whiteville North Carolina Medicaid Office at 40 Government Complex Road (910-640-6633) serves Columbus County, where residents may live a long way from the county seat. In the Piedmont, the Statesville North Carolina Medicaid Office at 549 Eastside Drive (704-873-5631) is the listing for Iredell County. Phone calls and online applications can save you a trip in both cases.
Bring photo identification, your notice or case number if you have one, and copies of income records. Ask for a written receipt or confirmation when you drop off documents. If you need help in a language other than English, or you have a disability that makes the visit difficult, ask the office about interpreters and accommodations. County staff are required to provide them.