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How to Apply for Medicaid and N.C. Health Choice

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are automatically covered for North Carolina Medicaid.  You do not need to apply for Medicaid.

You may apply for North Carolina Medicaid and/or North Carolina Health Choice for Children (NCHC) at the County Department of Social Services (DSS) in the county where you live.  If you are unable to go to a DSS office, you may call and ask that an application form be mailed to you. If you are disabled, a county representative may be able to make a home visit to assist you with the application process.  

Some health centers and hospitals have application forms available and may be able to assist you in completing them. 

You may also print and mail completed Medicaid and Health Choice Applications to your local DSS office.

If possible, take the items listed below with you when you go to the DSS office to apply. If you do not have some or all of these items, please apply anyway because it is very important to protect your application date. The DSS can assist you in obtaining these items and information.

• Certified birth certificates or other proof of citizenship/alien status for each individual applying for Medicaid/NCHC
• Identity documents for each individual applying for Medicaid/NCHC
• Social security cards, social security numbers, or proof that you have made an application for a number from the Social Security Office, for each individual applying for Medicaid or NCHC
• A copy of all pay stubs for last month
• Copies of all medical or life insurance policies
• A list of all cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, etc. you or anyone in your household own, including the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN) for each item
• Most recent bank statements
• A list of all real property you own
• Current financial statements/award letters from other sources of income, such as social security, retirement benefits, pensions, veteran benefits, and child support.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you are automatically covered for North Carolina Medicaid.

You may apply for SSI at the nearest local Social Security Office. Most SSI applications can be completed over the telephone.

For more information, you may also call the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.