According to stats released on Wednesday, Feb. 14 by the State of North Carolina, as of the start of February, 346,408 newly eligible North Carolinians were enrolled in Medicaid and have access to health care provided under the plan.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) posted the updated numbers on a web dashboard that tracks enrollment and other stats related to the rollout of Medicaid expansion in the state.

This number amounts to more than half of the 600,000 who are newly eligible for coverage and are expected to enroll in Medicaid expansion options by 2026.

NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley said this is great news.

“In the first two months, we have already enrolled over half of the eligible people,” Kinsley said. “These individuals and families are seeing providers, utilizing preventative and specialty care, and getting life-saving prescriptions.”

Those who have started to access their Medicaid coverage are now receiving health care under the coverage that began on December 1, 2023.

Other stats from NCDHHS state that Medicaid has covered more than 265,000 prescriptions for new enrollees so far, as well as paid nearly $5 million in claims for dental services

NCDHHS is working with county health and social services departments across the state to enroll more eligible people and so far that’s happening at a rate of about 1,000 people per day.

NC Medicaid Deputy Secretary Jay Ludlam said that North Carolina is now enrolling people faster than other states.

“Our community partners have been key in connecting directly with communities, getting the word out, and helping make sure that people are getting the coverage and care that is right for them,” Ludlam said.

According to state health officials, a lot of the people who’ve enrolled through Medicaid expansion are young adults and those who live in rural parts of the state.

Roughly one in three new enrollees are between 19 and 29 years old, and they disproportionately live in rural communities.  Some of the highest per capita enrolment rates are coming from Anson, Edgecombe, Richmond, Robeson and Swain counties.

Those who want to find out more about enrolling can contact their county’s social services or health department, or visit Medicaid.nc.gov.