North Carolina currently ranks 30th in the country in maternal mortality and 39th in infant mortality. In addition, 12% of women in the state experience postpartum depression.
Beginning April 1, 2022, North Carolina Medicaid has extended postpartum health care coverage from 60 days to 12 months for eligible people. Medicaid will also provide 12 months of continuous postpartum coverage to eligible people who are currently pregnant or gave birth between February 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022.
Beneficiaries will now be eligible to receive 12 months of ongoing postpartum health care coverage beginning on the date their pregnancy ends through the last day of the month; 12-months after the last date of the pregnancy. Beneficiaries will remain eligible for ongoing postpartum health care coverage even if certain changes occur that may affect eligibility---such as a change in income or household/family unit.
Most pregnant and postpartum beneficiaries will have access to full Medicaid benefits. This may include services like doctor's visits, prescription drugs, dental, vision and hearing, as well as behavioral health care and substance use services. For a full list of benefits visit the NC Medicaid website.
To receive the extended postpartum benefit, all eligible Medicaid beneficiaries must report when they are pregnant and the last day they were pregnant to their local Department of Social Services. Extended coverage applies to all categories of beneficiaries in all NC Medicaid programs, including those currently enrolled in Medicaid for Pregnant Women.
To learn more, visit NC Medicaid's Postpartum Coverage Extension webpage.