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Cost & Benefits

Benefits / North Carolina

Medicaid eligibility in North Carolina

The 2026 poverty guideline for four people in North Carolina is $33,000. North Carolina has adopted Medicaid expansion. Many adults qualify near 138 percent of poverty, about $22,025 a year for one person. This site does not approve or deny benefits. A missing figure stays blank. We do not guess it.

Simple answer

Yes, many low-income adults can qualify.

In North Carolina, many adults qualify around 138% of the poverty line. For one adult, that is about $22,025 a year.

Who is inside Medicaid or CHIP on the rules we can verify? A household of four is measured against $33,000. North Carolina has adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion.

The largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap among ranked metros in North Carolina is $514: Charlotte at $1,785 and Greensboro at $1,271.

North Carolina taxes wages at a flat 3.99%. Combined state and local sales tax is 7.0%. The ACS effective property tax rate is 0.61%.

A household of four with $48,000 of income is about 145 percent of the $33,000 poverty guideline and is a maybe for Medicaid and CHIP. Maybe — a state pathway is unverified or only part of the household fits.

Limits behind the page

2026 poverty guideline in North Carolina
Household100%138%185%
1$15,960$22,025$29,526
2$21,640$29,863$40,034
3$27,320$37,702$50,542
4$33,000$45,540$61,050

An illustrative household

Two adults, ages 34 and 32, filing jointly, plus children ages 8 and 3. Gross income $48,000 a year, about 145 percent of the poverty guideline in North Carolina. They rent. Nobody is marked disabled or pregnant.

Medicaid and CHIP

Maybe

Maybe — a state pathway is unverified or only part of the household fits

  • This household is at 145 percent of the 2026 poverty guideline for North Carolina ($33,000). 138 percent of that guideline is $45,540.
  • Children above 138 percent of poverty may still qualify for CHIP. The CHIP ceiling in North Carolina is not verified in the dataset.
  • North Carolina expanded Medicaid, and this income is over the 138 percent adult limit. Marketplace coverage is the next place to look.
See Medicaid and CHIP on HealthCare.gov

Check my household · Privacy

Food stamps (SNAP) tools in North Carolina

Last checked: October 15, 2026

Sources

What changed
  • October 15, 2026. The benefit rules file was checked against the sources listed here.
  • January 15, 2026. HHS published the 2026 poverty guidelines in the Federal Register.

Other programs in North Carolina

Large metros in North Carolina

Medicaid and CHIP in other states