You can submit an NC Medicaid application online through the state’s ePASS portal at epass.nc.gov. Create an account, work through the application screens, upload digital copies of your documents, and submit. The system gives you a confirmation, and your county Department of Social Services has up to 45 days to decide (90 days if the application involves a disability determination).1NC Medicaid. How To Apply for NC Medicaid
Gather Your Documents First
Starting the application without your paperwork at hand is the main reason people stall halfway through or get a Request for Information later that delays approval. Have digital copies ready to upload — phone photos are fine as long as the text is readable.
- Social Security number for everyone on the application. A copy of the Social Security card works, as does a military ID, another official document showing name and SSN, or proof you have applied for an SSN.
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status, usually a birth certificate or passport.
- Proof of North Carolina residency. A photo ID with your current address, a utility bill, a lease or mortgage, vehicle registration, or proof of employment all qualify. If you have none of these, the application includes a residency declaration checkbox.
- Income verification. Recent pay stubs or employer verification if you’re employed; your most recent tax return or business records if you’re self-employed. The state provides a separate form if you lack business records.
If you’re applying for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid, long-term care, or in-home services, you’ll also need to complete the Income/Resources Appendix D form (DMA-5202D), which covers bank accounts, property, and other assets.1NC Medicaid. How To Apply for NC Medicaid
Submitting Through ePASS
Go to epass.nc.gov and create an account using an email address you check regularly — notices and status updates land there. Once you’re signed in, select the Medicaid application and work through the screens in order. You can save and come back if you need to; the system holds your draft.
When you reach the document section, upload the files you prepared. PDFs and standard image formats work. After you submit, ePASS generates a confirmation. Keep it. The same account later lets you check case status, renew coverage, and update personal information without calling or visiting your local DSS.2NC Medicaid. Enhanced ePASS Accounts for NC Medicaid Beneficiaries
Filling Out the Application Correctly
The questions themselves are the same whether you apply online or on paper, and a few sections cause most of the follow-up requests.
Household. List every person in your tax household, including children and anyone you claim as a dependent. For each, provide name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship to you.
Income. Enter monthly gross earnings before taxes, exactly as they appear on your pay stubs or business records. Rounding or estimating invites a clarification request that slows your case. If anyone in the household already has health insurance through an employer or another program, report it.
Deductions. The application has fields for childcare costs and court-ordered child support payments. These lower your countable income, so fill them in if they apply. A caseworker uses them in the eligibility calculation.
Retroactive coverage. If you had medical bills in the three months before your application month, you can ask Medicaid to cover them. Apply in April and qualify, and the program can pay for covered services from January through March as long as you were eligible then.3NC Medicaid. NC Medicaid Expansion Questions and Answers The request goes on the application itself, so don’t skip the retroactive question if you have unpaid bills. A federal law signed in July 2025 will shorten these windows starting January 1, 2027: expansion adults will get 30 days of retroactive coverage, and traditional Medicaid populations will get 60 days. Until that date, the three-month window stands.
Signature. At the end you attest that everything is truthful. On ePASS the attestation is electronic and carries the same weight as a handwritten signature. Review your entries before you click submit; providing false information can result in penalties.
After You Submit
Your county DSS has up to 45 days to make a decision on a standard application and up to 90 days on a disability-related one, because those require additional medical review.1NC Medicaid. How To Apply for NC Medicaid The written decision arrives by mail.
If something is missing or unclear, a caseworker will send a Request for Information — a missing pay stub, a clarification about household size, a citizenship document. Respond by the deadline on the letter. Missing it leads to denial, and you’d have to start over or appeal. If the request isn’t clear, call the caseworker directly; their contact information is on the letter. You can also check your case status in ePASS without waiting on hold.
If You Can’t Apply Online
ePASS is the fastest option, but it’s not the only one. Every county has a DSS that accepts paper applications in person; bring your documents so staff can copy them, and ask for a dated receipt. You can also apply by phone through your local DSS, where a caseworker walks through the questions and you give a verbal signature that carries the same legal weight as a written one. Mailing a paper application to your county DSS works too — use certified mail and address it to your county’s DSS, not to a state office in Raleigh. If you’re not sure which office is yours, the NC Medicaid Contact Center at 1-888-245-0179 can direct you, and the full directory is at ncdhhs.gov/localDSS.1NC Medicaid. How To Apply for NC Medicaid
If Your Application Is Denied
The denial notice explains the reason — most often excess income, missing documentation, or no response to a Request for Information. Read it closely. The appeal deadline runs from the date on the letter, not the date you receive it.
If you think the decision was wrong, you can request a hearing through the DHHS Hearing Office at 919-814-0090, by fax at 919-882-1179, or by email at Medicaid.Hearings@dhhs.nc.gov.4NC Medicaid. Appeals Before you file, check whether the problem is something you can fix: a document you can still submit, or an income figure entered incorrectly. Reapplying with complete information is often faster than a formal appeal.