Appeal deadlines in North Carolina
State outside review (120 days); Medicaid hearing deadline 30 days for services, 60 days for eligibility.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
Appeal deadlines are strict. If you are near a deadline or your care is urgent, call free help today.
Deadlines at a glance in North Carolina
- Outside review
- 120 days
- Hearing deadline
- 30 days for services, 60 days for eligibility
- Then a state hearing
- 120 days
How each deadline is counted in North Carolina
- Time to file
Use the deadline on your denial notice. Federal rules give at least 180 days for most plans.
Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-50-61, 58-50-62, 58-50-79(b)
- Deadline to ask
File within 120 days after you receive the notice of the insurer's final decision. If Smart NC asks for missing information, it must be received within 150 days after the date of the insurer's decision. The reviewer decides a standard review within 45 days after Smart NC receives the request.
Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-50-75, 58-50-79, 58-50-80, 58-50-82, 58-50-84, 58-50-92
- The deadline runs from
The date you receive the insurer's final appeal or grievance decision (for expedited review, the initial denial or the appeal decision)
- Deadline for service decisions
The date the notice was mailed, for a service denial by NC Medicaid outside a health plan (file with the Office of Administrative Hearings).
- Keeping your benefits during the appeal
For eligibility, your Medicaid continues at the same level until the local hearing decision if you request a hearing on or before the date the termination or change takes effect.
How long do I have? Deadline calculator
Sources
The official sources for North Carolina are listed on the North Carolina page.