Medicaid Expansion started in December of 2023. The process predicted that approximately 6,000 people in Orange County would now qualify for Medicaid. Many organizations, such as Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS), and others hired additional staff to assist in enrolling this large amount of people in Medicaid. Medicaid enrollment information will continue to be shared at community events, meetings, and other spaces. It is the goal of the Orange County Health Department and all partners to ensure that all eligible people in Orange County are aware of and enrolled in Medicaid.

The goal is to serve all those who are eligible for the Medicaid Expansion coverage in Orange County. 

By tasking multiple organizations, coalitions, and committees to assist in enrolling people in the new Medicaid Expansion project, we are impacting the entirety of Orange County by providing health coverage to those who previously did not qualify for it and by improving the health access of the county. 

By December 31, 2024, there were 4,419 newly eligible Orange County residents enrolled in Medicaid by the Medicaid Expansion program. Of those newly enrolled, approximately 39% were people 19-29 years of age (per NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard). This corresponds to the data presented in the 2023 Orange County CHA which showed that the young adult population has higher poverty rates compared to other age groups in the county. Medicaid expansion and enrollment information has been shared in multiple languages and formats throughout the county through various methods, including but not limited to, news articles, community outreach events, and social media or other communication methods.