North Carolina

In North Carolina, a variety of health insurance options are available to help cover the costs of pregnancy and childbirth care. These include Medicaid, employer-sponsored insurance, private plans, and other supportive programs aimed at ensuring that expectant parents receive the care they need.

1. State Plans and Programs

a. North Carolina Medicaid, also known as the Baby Love Program, provides free or low-cost coverage for low-income pregnant individuals. Covered services include:

• Prenatal and postpartum care,
• Labor and delivery,
• Hospital stays, and
• Infant care for the baby up to one year after birth.

Eligibility is based on income and household size. Learn more and apply at North Carolina Medicaid.

b. NC Health Choice (CHIP): North Carolina’s version of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) helps cover uninsured children under 19 and may provide coverage for pregnant teens under certain conditions. For more information, visit NC Health Choice (CHIP).

1. Employer-Sponsored Plans

Many North Carolinians access maternity coverage through an employer-sponsored plan, either their own or a spouse’s. These typically cover prenatal visits, screenings and ultrasounds, delivery (vaginal or cesarean), and postpartum care.

1. Health Insurance Marketplace

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Marketplace health plans are required to include maternity and newborn care as essential health benefits. North Carolinians can browse and enroll in coverage via the federal Marketplace. Explore plans at Healthcare.gov.

1. Private / Individual Insurance Plans

Private insurance purchased directly from insurers outside the Marketplace may also include pregnancy benefits. Coverage can vary, so it’s important to review plan details. Additionally, pregnant dependents under age 26 may be covered under a parent’s plan if that plan includes dependent maternity coverage. This coverage generally ends at the end of the year, the dependent turns 26 (Marketplace) or the month they turn 26 (employer-sponsored).

1. Other Assistance Programs

a. Indian Health Service (IHS)
For members of federally recognized tribes, the Indian Health Service and affiliated tribal health programs offer maternity care, often at low or no cost. North Carolina is home to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who can access services through tribal clinics or IHS facilities.

b. Healthy North Carolina 2030 Initiatives
Although not insurance, these public health efforts aim to reduce maternal health disparities and improve prenatal access for underserved communities across the state.

c. Sliding Fee Clinics / FQHCs
Community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offer sliding scale maternity services based on income.