North Carolina will begin the recertification (renewal) process for Medicaid beneficiaries on April 1, 2023. This means Medicaid patients are required to submit information to determine they are still eligible for Medicaid coverage. The process will be completed over the next 14 months, as beneficiaries are up for renewal. Some people may no longer have coverage. For other people, benefits may change.
To learn more, visit Medicaid.gov or call NC Medicaid toll-free at 833-870-5500 (TTY: 711 or RelayNC.com)
Actions You Can Take Today
Make sure your mailing address and other contact information are up to date.
With an enhanced ePASS account, you can update your address and other information for Medicaid online without having to call or visit your local DSS.
Check your mail
DSS will mail you a letter if you need to complete a renewal form.
Complete the renewal form
If you receive a renewal form, fill it out and return it to your local DSS right away to help avoid a gap in Medicaid coverage.
How do I know if my Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctor is in an NC Medicaid health plan?
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctors and hospitals are the following NC Medicaid health insurance plans:
If you have any questions, please contact your health plan.
Important: If you have a medical emergency, go to the closest hospital emergency room. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist hospitals provide services to all patients seeking treatment for an emergency medical condition, regardless of what health insurance plan you have or if you can pay for emergency services.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are no longer eligible to receive Medicaid benefits, you can enroll in a health plan through the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace®. Choosing a plan can protect you from high, unexpected medical costs.
That’s why Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist is proud to work with the most affordable1 Health Insurance Marketplace plans – like Aetna CVS Health™ and Ambetter of North Carolina Inc. – to provide quality coverage with access to a level of care you won’t find anywhere else.
Take time to compare your options and make sure to choose a plan that includes Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctors and hospitals.
1Based on 2023 Silver/bronze, age 50 rating, regions 4 and 5.
Medicaid beneficiaries were not required to renew their coverage during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, also known as the Omnibus Bill, was signed into law December 29, 2022 and changed that. As of April 1, 2023, Medicaid programs are no longer required to provide continuous coverage for beneficiaries. The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency will also end on May 11, 2023.
This means Medicaid patients must now submit information to ensure they are still eligible for Medicaid coverage. The recertification (renewal) period will take place over the next 14 months. Some people may no longer have coverage. For other people, benefits may change.
There are three ways to apply:
- Online: Apply online at ePass.
- Mail: Mail a paper application or drop it off at your local Department of Social Services (DSS). Get a copy of the paper application.
- In person: Apply in person at your local DSS.
Call your local DSS if you cannot apply one of these ways. See a list of local DSS locations.
Learn more about how to apply for NC Medicaid.
- A recent move or change of address
- If you are pregnant or your household size has changed
- A new job or a change in income
If there have been no changes to your personal information, no action is needed.
Most people can change their health plan within 90 days of health plan enrollment.
When you enroll in a health plan, you can change your health plan for any reason within 90 days. After that, you can change your health plan:
- At your Medicaid recertification date
- If you are required to change health plans
- If you have a special or “with cause” reason, such as:
- You moved out of your health plan’s service area
- You have a family member in a different health plan
- You cannot get all the related services you need from providers in your health plan, and there is a risk to getting the services separately
- A different health plan may be better for your complex medical conditions
- Your Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) provider is not in your health plan
- Your health plan does not cover a service you need for moral or religious reasons
- Other reasons (poor quality of care, lack of access to covered services, lack of access to providers experienced in dealing with your health care needs)
If you want to change your health plan outside of the 90 days, you can request to change your health plan in one of the following ways:
- Online with your NC Medicaid Managed Care account and submit the form. You will need to have your NCID ready to log in and request to change your health plan. Learn about submitting forms online.
- Call us toll-free at 833-870-5500 (TTY: 711 or RelayNC.com).
- Mail or fax the Health Plan Change Request form.
NC Medicaid will send you a letter telling you when you can choose a new health plan without a special reason. To learn more, call at 833-870-5500 (TTY: 711 or RelayNC.com) or use the NC Medicaid chat tool to chat online.
Some people can change their health plan at any time.
You can change your health plan at any time for these reasons:
- You need services to address a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- You are a federally recognized tribal member or qualify for services through Indian Health Service (IHS)
To change your primary care provider (PCP) within your current health plan’s provider network, please contact your health plan. Below are the health plans and their contact information.
- AmeriHealth Caritas NC – 855-375-8811
- HealthyBlue – 844-594-5070
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan – 800-349-1855
- WellCare – 866-799-5318