Medicaid for pregnant women in North Carolina
The number
NC Medicaid covers pregnancy-related care up to 201% of the federal poverty line — about $51,900 annual income for a family of three in 2025 — including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum visits plus WIC eligibility.
What Medicaid covers during pregnancy in North Carolina
NC Medicaid covers pregnant women up to 201% of the federal poverty line — about $51,900 annual income for a family of three in 2025. Enrollment covers the full pregnancy from the date of application, plus — in most states — presumptive eligibility, which lets a qualified hospital, FQHC, or WIC clinic enroll you on the spot for at least 60 days of temporary coverage while your application is processed. Apply at https://epass.nc.gov/.
What's covered during pregnancy: all prenatal visits (ACOG recommends 10-15 for a typical pregnancy), ultrasounds, prenatal labs and blood tests, genetic screening, birth classes in most states, labor and delivery (vaginal or c-section), anesthesia, newborn care, and the 6-week postpartum check. Dental and vision are covered for pregnant enrollees in every state regardless of whether they're covered for adults generally. NC Medicaid extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months (effective 2022-04-01), and has a doula Medicaid benefit pending CMS approval.
WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) is a separate federal program that every Medicaid-enrolled pregnant woman automatically qualifies for. WIC provides monthly food benefits for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and their children through age 5, plus nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support. Apply at your county WIC clinic or at signupwic.com. WIC enrollment does not affect Medicaid enrollment or vice versa.
Finding a prenatal provider who accepts Medicaid: our provider directory filters to North Carolina at /providers/nc/, and our FQHC directory for North Carolina — every FQHC takes Medicaid and offers sliding-scale fees on a sliding basis for anyone uninsured — is at /clinics/nc/. For Black-serving community-based perinatal organizations, see the "Where to get help" section below. North Carolina became the 40th expansion state on December 1, 2023 under HB 76 (2023), signed by Governor Cooper after a decade of gridlock. In its first year, expansion enrolled more than 545,000 North Carolinians, roughly a third of whom are Black residents.
For Black families
In North Carolina, Black pregnant women are roughly three times more likely than white pregnant women to die from pregnancy-related causes, per CDC WONDER state-level mortality data. Medicaid is the single largest payer of Black births in the state. North Carolina became the 40th expansion state on December 1, 2023 under HB 76 (2023), signed by Governor Cooper after a decade of gridlock. In its first year, expansion enrolled more than 545,000 North Carolinians, roughly a third of whom are Black residents.
Where to get help in North Carolina
- Federally Qualified Health Centers in North Carolina: every FQHC accepts Medicaid, charges on a sliding scale for the uninsured, and has certified application counselors who can help you apply or renew. See our FQHC directory for this state at /clinics/nc/.
- Medicaid-accepting providers in North Carolina: our provider directory lets you filter to providers in this state. See /providers/nc/.
- State health profile for North Carolina: for state-level health outcomes context (maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate) by race, see /health/north-carolina/.
- NC Medicaid consumer help line: 1-888-245-0179 for application help, renewal questions, and general Medicaid inquiries. Ask for an interpreter if you need one; language access is required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
- Black Mamas Matter Alliance maintains a national directory of Black perinatal organizations at blackmamasmatter.org. Filter to programs serving North Carolina.
- National Health Law Program (NHeLP) doula tracker: up-to-date Medicaid doula coverage map at healthlaw.org/doulamedicaidproject.
References & primary sources
- NC Medicaid, state Medicaid portal: https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/.
- KFF State Health Facts: kff.org/statedata. Medicaid income eligibility + enrollment.
- Medicaid.gov: medicaid.gov. Federal program guidance + state plan amendments.
- March of Dimes 12-month postpartum tracker: marchofdimes.org/report-card.
- CDC Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System: cdc.gov/reproductivehealth.
Data refreshed: