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Family & Children’s Medicaid

Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income individuals and families who cannot afford health care costs. Medicaid serves infants, children and families in several ways:

  • Medicaid for Infants and Children provides medical coverage for children under age 19.
  • Medicaid for Families with Dependent Children (for parents or other caretakers & children under 21) Parents/Caretaker relatives must be living with and caring for a child to whom they are related who is under age 19. Children must be under age 21.
  • Medicaid for Pregnant Women (Baby Love) Coverage is limited to treatment for conditions that affect the pregnancy. A pregnant woman may apply for this program before or after she delivers. A woman who has experienced a recent pregnancy loss may also be eligible. The monthly family income cannot exceed 185% of the federal poverty level. There is no limit on resources. If a pregnant woman is covered by Medicaid on the date she delivers, her newborn child may be eligible for Medicaid up to age 1 without a separate application.
  • Community Alternatives Programs: For children who need long-term care
  • Be Smart Family Planning Program provides family planning and birth control. To apply for Be Smart, you must be a woman age 19 through 55 or a man aged 19 through 60 who is not pregnant, sterilized, incarcerated, not currently on Medicaid and have income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Other requirements may apply.
  • Expanded Foster Care must be 18-20 and had been a Title IV-E or State foster child on 18th birthday
  • Breast & Cervical Cancer Medicaid provides full coverage for a woman who has been screened and enrolled in the NC Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Program and is otherwise ineligible for Medicaid.
  • North Carolina Health Choice for Children (NCHC) NCHC is a free or reduced price comprehensive health care program for children. If your family makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford rising health insurance premiums, your child(ren) may qualify for NCHC.
  • Carolina Access is North Carolina’s Medicaid managed care program. It provides you with a medical home and a primary care provider (PCP) who will coordinate your medical care.

Your family’s income, the number of people in your family, and the age of your children determine if you or your children qualify. When you apply for Medicaid, your family’s monthly income is calculated by subtracting certain deductions from your gross income. Certain deductions are given for work-related expenses, child care costs, and court-ordered child support or alimony. The deductions vary with each Medicaid program. If the family income is over the limit and your child(ren) and/or family have high medical bills, you may still qualify for Medicaid and have a Medicaid deductible. Your county worker will calculate your monthly family income.

North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance

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