Beginning July 1, 2021, Medicaid patients will receive services in a new way – through private health plans. While eligibility rules and coverage are not changing, Medicaid patients will have to make some choices in order to remain with the providers they know and trust. Here’s what you need to know. 

Enrollment Packets

As of March 1, all Medicaid patients will begin receiving outreach communications from the government-contracted organization Maximus. This mailing will include details about the change and the steps all patients must take to enroll in the updated Medicaid Managed Care program.

Open Enrollment 

Medicaid patients will have from March 15 to May 14, 2021, to make two important decisions about their services. 

  1. Choose a health plan: A health plan is a group of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that work together to get you the care you need. This is similar to an insurance plan in that it only covers those providers who participate in a particular plan. 

There are five health plans participating in the new NC Medicaid program. A health plan choice guide will be included in the packets from Maximus, and more information on each plan can be found here. 

    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield)
    • United Healthcare Community Plan of NC
    • WellCare of North Carolina

2. Choose a primary care provider (PCP): To keep JCMC as your PCP, you must select us or you risk losing the providers whom you know and trust. Before making your selection, verify that your PCP participates with the health plan you choose. JCMC Health participates in all five available health plans.

Patients can enrollment in one of these ways:

    • Go to NCMedicaidPlans.gov
    • Use the NC Medicaid Managed Care mobile app
    • Call the NC Department of Health and Human Services at 1-833-870-5500 (TTY: 1-833-870-5588)
    • When you receive an enrollment form, fill it out and mail or fax it back

Auto-Enrollment

Enrollment in Medicaid Managed Care is mandatory. If you do not select a health plan and a PCP by May 14, 2021, they will be selected for you. It’s best if you make the selections because you know your health care needs best.

Once you make your selections, you will receive your new ID cards in the mail, and your new coverage period will begin as of July 1, 2021. If you decide to change your health plan after this date, you will have until September 30, 2021, to update your choice. 

Questions? 

JCMC Health patients can contact us directly with any questions about your provider or our participation in any of the five available health plans. If you have more questions: