Fact Check: "The U.S. has approximately 663,000 people enrolled in Medicaid in North Carolina."
What We Know
The claim that there are approximately 663,000 people enrolled in Medicaid in North Carolina is partially supported by recent data. As of April 1, 2023, the North Carolina Medicaid program reported a total enrollment of 3.1 million individuals, which includes low-income adults, children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities (NC Medicaid Enrollment Reports). However, specific enrollment figures for just Medicaid (excluding CHIP) can fluctuate and are not always detailed in the same reports.
The North Carolina Medicaid profile indicates that the state has seen significant enrollment increases over the years, particularly since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. As of December 2019, the state had enrolled approximately 985,201 individuals in Medicaid and CHIP, which represents a substantial increase since the program's expansion in 2013.
Analysis
The figure of 663,000 appears to be an underestimation when considering the broader context of total Medicaid enrollment in North Carolina. The latest reports indicate that the total enrollment is significantly higher, at around 3.1 million. However, the specific number of individuals enrolled in Medicaid alone (excluding CHIP) is not explicitly detailed in the sources provided.
The NC Medicaid Enrollment Reports mention that counts less than 11 are not shown for privacy reasons, which can lead to discrepancies in reported totals. This lack of transparency in specific enrollment figures makes it challenging to verify the exact number of individuals enrolled in Medicaid alone.
Moreover, the data from the North Carolina Medicaid overview suggests a trend of increasing enrollment, which could imply that the figure of 663,000 may have been accurate at a certain point in time but does not reflect the current situation.
The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they come from official state reports and government websites. However, the absence of precise figures for Medicaid-only enrollment limits the ability to fully confirm or deny the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: Partially True
While the claim that there are approximately 663,000 people enrolled in Medicaid in North Carolina is partially true, it significantly underrepresents the actual enrollment figures. The total enrollment in the Medicaid program is approximately 3.1 million, which includes various categories of beneficiaries. The lack of specific and current data for Medicaid alone makes it difficult to ascertain the accuracy of the 663,000 figure.
