Find help near you across North Carolina.
Free and low-cost resources for recovery, safety, housing, food, health, and family support. Pick your county below, then search or filter by category. When in doubt, dial 211 — free, 24/7 — and they’ll point you the right way.
🎁 Medicaid & Benefits Guide →These are community resources S.A.F.E. shares for information only — we don’t operate them and can’t guarantee availability or eligibility. Please call ahead to confirm, or dial 2-1-1. In an emergency, call 911.
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Phone numbers, websites, and eligibility rules change. Please confirm by calling 211 or the agency directly before relying on a listing. This directory is provided for information only and is not emergency or medical advice. Last reviewed {{ updated }}.
Know what you have. Get every benefit you qualify for.
A plain-language starting point for NC Medicaid and related benefits — including under-used perks and the big changes coming in 2026–2027.
General information, not legal or insurance advice — rules change often. Always confirm with your local DSS, your Medicaid health plan, or by dialing 2-1-1. Current as of mid-2026.
NC Medicaid Basics
Who qualifies: since expansion, adults 19–64 with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level — even without children or a disability.
Cost: no monthly premium; copays never more than $4, and $0 for kids, pregnant/postpartum members, and behavioral health / I/DD / SUD services.
Apply or renew: epass.nc.gov, your County DSS, or the NC Medicaid Contact Center at 1-888-245-0179.
Compare / switch plans: five plans available — compare at ncmedicaidplans.gov or call 1-833-870-5500.
What’s Actually Covered
Broadly covered: doctor & hospital visits, maternity/postpartum care, prescriptions, preventive care, and medical equipment — no premium.
Behavioral health & SUD: outpatient therapy, peer support, and substance-use treatment, depending on plan and network.
Dental caveat: comprehensive for kids under 21 and pregnant members. For adults 21+, coverage is mainly emergency extractions and dentures — routine cleanings, fillings, and crowns generally are not covered.
Vision: typically one exam + one pair of glasses every 2 years for adults.
Benefits People Often Miss
Free rides to appointments (NEMT)
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation is a real Medicaid benefit — free rides to doctor visits, therapy, dialysis, and pharmacy pickups. Call the Member Services number on the back of your Medicaid card to schedule (a few business days’ notice). One of the most under-used benefits.
“Value-added” extras — ask your plan
Each plan adds its own perks on top of core Medicaid. Examples seen across plans:
OTC debit card · gym membership · healthy-groceries card · free breast pump · extra glasses/exam · GED voucher · discounted smartphone with data · rides to job interviews & WIC · post-hospital home meals · 24/7 virtual doctor visits.
Ask: “What value-added benefits come with my plan?”
🎁 Hidden Perks: What Your Card Can Really Do
Your card unlocks more than groceries and doctor visits. Some perks are automatic; some you have to call and ask for — either way, they’re already yours.
With an EBT / SNAP card — these work nationwide
With NC Medicaid — bonus extras by plan
Every plan covers the same core benefits — these extras vary by plan. Most apply to every member — OTC cards, gym, groceries, dental/vision, GED, telehealth and more — not just new parents (pregnancy & baby perks are labeled). Tap a plan to see its perks, then call the number on your Medicaid card to activate. This isn’t a complete list — each plan offers more, so ask yours for its full benefits catalog.
AmeriHealth Caritas NC · 1-855-375-8811
Healthy Blue · 1-844-594-5070
Healthy Blue Care Together · foster-care / children’s plan
WellCare / Carolina Complete Health · merged 2026 · 1-866-799-5318
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan · 1-800-349-1855
Dual-eligible (Medicare + Medicaid) · both cards
Heads up: Plan perks and store discounts change often and some need separate sign-up. Confirm what’s currently available by calling the number on your Medicaid card or the retailer directly. S.A.F.E. doesn’t operate or guarantee these third-party programs. Last verified mid-2026.
Work / community-engagement requirement
Most non-exempt adults 19–64 in the expansion group will need ~80 hours/month of work, training, school, or volunteering. NC may begin checking as early as Dec 2026. Exemptions include parents/caregivers of a child 13 or younger, pregnant/postpartum members, and people on SSI/SSDI. If you may qualify for an exemption, tell DSS now and keep proof of your hours.
More frequent renewals
As early as Dec 31, 2026, many expansion adults renew every 6 months instead of yearly. Keep your address & phone current with DSS and open every piece of Medicaid mail — missed deadlines are the #1 cause of coverage loss.
Immigration eligibility change — Oct 1, 2026
Federal law removes eligibility for several non-citizen groups who previously qualified — including asylees, trafficking survivors with protections, and humanitarian parolees. Does not affect U.S. citizens. Those affected may still qualify for Emergency Medicaid; connect with immigration legal aid as soon as possible.
Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) — paused
HOP paid for non-medical needs (housing, food, transportation) in some counties. It was not funded past July 2025, so services stopped. Other Medicaid benefits are unaffected. Ask your care manager about alternatives or call 211 — and re-check, as it may resume if refunded.
Beyond Medicaid
SNAP (food & nutrition) & WIC — apply at epass.nc.gov or DSS; often approved alongside Medicaid.
LIEAP — seasonal heating-bill help through DSS; check dates each winter.
Lifeline — up to $9.25/mo off phone or internet; automatic if on Medicaid/SNAP/SSI. Apply at LifelineSupport.org.
Head Start, child-care subsidy & NC Pre-K — free/reduced child care and preschool; see county contacts above.
EITC & Child Tax Credit — a free tax-prep (VITA) site can check eligibility every year, even with little income.
Quick Action Checklist
Need help with any of this? Dial 2-1-1 (free, 24/7), contact your County DSS, or call the Member/Care Manager line on your Medicaid card.