Ways to apply for North Dakota Medicaid
These are the channels North Dakota names on its own Medicaid pages. Use whichever is easiest.
- Online
-
Apply online
dhsbenefits.dhs.nd.gov
- By phone
- Call (866) 614-6005
- In person
- Human service zone office. Find an office
- By mail
- Get the paper application
- HealthCare.gov
- You can also apply at HealthCare.gov any time of year. If anyone in your household looks eligible for Medicaid, it sends your information to North Dakota's agency.
- Decision time
- Federal rules give the state up to 45 days to decide, or 90 days if you apply based on a disability (42 CFR 435.912).
Read on the state's own pages, October 13, 2026.
Key facts at a glance
- Pregnant women eligible up to 162% FPL ($41,830 for a family of three in 2025).
- Children 0-5 eligible up to 175% FPL ($45,180 for a family of three).
- Expansion adults eligible up to 138% FPL ($35,630 for a family of three).
- Postpartum Medicaid extended to 12 months (effective 2023-07-01).
North Dakota Medicaid, topic by topic
Eligibility
Income limits & who qualifies
North Dakota Medicaid covers pregnant women up to 162% of the federal poverty line ($41,830 annual income for a family of three in 2025).
How to apply
How to apply step by step
Apply online at dhsbenefits.dhs.nd.gov or call (866) 614-6005.
Doula coverage
Doula coverage details
North Dakota Medicaid does not currently cover doula services through Medicaid; state advocacy for a State Plan Amendment is ongoing.
Postpartum extension
12-month postpartum status
North Dakota Medicaid extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, effective 2023-07-01.
Pregnant women
Pregnancy coverage in full
North Dakota Medicaid covers pregnancy-related care up to 162% of the federal poverty line (about $41,830 annual income for a family of thr…
Renewal
Annual renewal & unwinding
North Dakota Medicaid redetermines eligibility at least once every 12 months under 42 CFR 435.916. During the 2023+ unwinding, roughly 69% …
For Black families
Roughly 4,900 Black residents are enrolled in North Dakota Medicaid, per the most recent CMS T-MSIS analytic file. The number understates true eligibility: every state has Black eligibles who aren't currently enrolled, usually because of the administrative-churn rates that rose sharply during the 2023 unwinding.
North Dakota's Expansion Medicaid program is run entirely through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota under a unique single-payer private contract. IHS and tribal health programs handle enrollment on the five reservations.
For enrollment help: look for your state's Navigator program (federally funded under the ACA), a Federally Qualified Health Center in your county (every FQHC has certified application counselors on staff), or one of the named community organizations below. Our FQHC directory filters to this state at /clinics/nd/.
More on North Dakota from Black Health
FQHCs
Federally Qualified Health Centers in North Dakota
Sliding-scale clinics that take Medicaid + help with applications.
Providers
Providers who accept Medicaid in North Dakota
Filter our directory to North Dakota by specialty.
Health data
Black Health outcomes in North Dakota
Maternal mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate by race.
Sickle cell
Medicaid gene-therapy coverage in North Dakota
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover Casgevy + Lyfgenia? SCDAA chapter, comprehensive centers.
Hospitals
Safety-net hospitals in North Dakota
CMS ratings, Medicaid-accepting hospitals, and which facilities anchor care for Black patients.
Tool
Medicaid eligibility pre-check for North Dakota
Household size and income, in about a minute. Direct link to North Dakota’s apply portal.
WIC
WIC in North Dakota
Adjunctive WIC eligibility for everyone on North Dakota Medicaid, monthly food package + Cash-Value Benefit.
SNAP
SNAP (food stamps) in North Dakota
Federal food assistance: FY 2025 max benefits, ABAWD rules, application URL for North Dakota.
TANF
TANF cash assistance in North Dakota
North Dakota’s maximum monthly TANF cash benefit, time limits, and how to apply.
Data sources
- North Dakota Medicaid — state Medicaid portal.
- KFF State Health Facts, Medicaid income eligibility + expansion + enrollment tables (kff.org/statedata).
- National Health Law Program doula Medicaid project (healthlaw.org/doulamedicaidproject).
- March of Dimes Report Card, 12-month postpartum extension tracker (marchofdimes.org/report-card).
- CMS T-MSIS Analytic Files, Medicaid enrollment by race and ethnicity (medicaid.gov/dq-atlas).
- HHS Poverty Guidelines, 2025 Federal Register release.
Data refreshed:
If you have Medicaid, the coverage on this page is the route to use first: it costs you nothing and it is what these programs exist for. If you are not covered yet, there is still a free option. Our directory of free and charitable clinics lists centers by state. The option below is self-pay and is not billed to Medicaid. It is here for readers who are between coverage or who prefer to pay out of pocket:
Sesame Care
See a doctor online today.
Same-day video visits from $34
See a doctor today