How to Renew North Carolina Medicaid
Updated August 2026
NC Medicaid renewals happen once per year. NCDHHS first attempts to verify your continued eligibility automatically through electronic data matches — this is called ex parte renewal. The state checks income records, tax data, and other databases against your file. If the data confirms you still qualify, your coverage renews without any action required from you.
Annual
Renewal frequency
ePASS
Renew online at epass.nc.gov
10 days
Aid-pending appeal window
Expansion enrollees are now entering their first renewal cycle — keep your ePASS address current
The approximately 600,000 adults who enrolled through North Carolina's December 2023 Medicaid expansion are now reaching their first annual renewal. Many have never navigated a Medicaid renewal before. The single most protective action is confirming your mailing address and contact information are current in ePASS at epass.nc.gov before your renewal date. A notice sent to an old address is still considered delivered.
How NC Medicaid renewal works
Ex parte renewal succeeds for many enrollees. It fails when data sources don't have current information — self-employment income, changes in household size, and recent moves are common reasons. When ex parte fails, NCDHHS mails you a renewal form that you must complete and return within a set timeframe.
Steps to complete your renewal
Follow these steps when your NC Medicaid renewal comes due.
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1
Watch for your renewal notice
NCDHHS sends renewal notices by mail to the address on file. You may also receive a notice through your ePASS account. Check both. Notices arrive approximately 60 days before your renewal date.
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2
Confirm your address is current
Log into epass.nc.gov and verify your mailing address, phone number, and email. A notice sent to an old address is still considered delivered — missed renewals are not automatically excused.
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3
Complete renewal online, by mail, or by phone
If you receive a renewal form, complete it through ePASS, mail it to your county DSS, or call 1-888-245-0179. Include any documentation requested — recent pay stubs, tax records, or proof of household changes.
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4
Respond before the deadline
NC Medicaid gives you a specific deadline to respond. Missing it triggers termination, not suspension. You can reapply after termination, but coverage will have a gap. Don't wait.
A note for expansion enrollees renewing for the first time
The approximately 600,000 adults who gained NC Medicaid coverage starting December 2023 are now entering annual renewal cycles for the first time. Many have never navigated a Medicaid renewal before. The process is not complicated, but it has real deadlines and real consequences for missing them.
NC experienced significant coverage losses during the 2023–2024 Medicaid unwinding period — when pandemic-era continuous coverage protections ended and states resumed normal renewals. Some enrollees lost coverage because they missed renewal notices sent to outdated addresses. Others lost coverage due to paperwork processing delays at county DSS offices. If you lost coverage in that period and believe you should still qualify, you may reapply. The clearest protective action is keeping your ePASS contact information current before your renewal date.
Renewal checklist
Use this checklist to prepare for your NC Medicaid renewal.
- Log into ePASS and confirm your mailing address, phone, and email are current
- Watch for a renewal notice arriving 60 days before your renewal anniversary
- Report any household changes — income, household members, address — as they happen (not just at renewal)
- Gather income documentation before your renewal period opens
- Respond to any renewal form by the stated deadline
- Contact your county DSS or call 1-888-245-0179 if you have questions about your renewal status
What to have ready when your renewal arrives
Gather these items before your renewal period opens so you can respond quickly if a form is required.
- ePASS account confirmed with current mailing address, phone number, and email
- Recent income documentation — pay stubs (last 30 days), benefit award letters, or self-employment records
- Information about any household changes since your last renewal (people moved in or out, new baby, change in income)
- Current health insurance information if any household member gained or lost other coverage
- Social Security numbers for all household members on your case
If your renewal is denied or coverage is terminated
A termination or denial notice must state the reason and explain your right to appeal. In North Carolina, you can request a fair hearing through the NC Office of Administrative Hearings. Filing within 10 days of the termination date — while your current coverage is still active — triggers the "aid pending" right, which means your benefits continue during the hearing process.
For help navigating a denial or termination, call the NC Medicaid Ombudsman at 1-877-201-3750. This free, independent service helps enrollees understand their options, prepare for hearings, and navigate coverage disputes. The Ombudsman cannot change eligibility decisions, but is one of the most useful resources available to NC Medicaid enrollees.
Lost NC Medicaid during the 2023–2024 unwinding? You may still qualify — reapply at epass.nc.gov. Eligibility is based on current circumstances and coverage starts the first of the month you apply.
NC Medicaid
- NC Medicaid enrollment phone line: 1-888-245-0179
- ePASS online portal: epass.nc.gov
- NC Medicaid Ombudsman: 1-877-201-3750
- NCDHHS Medicaid: medicaid.ncdhhs.gov