To apply for Medicaid in South Carolina, submit an application to the state’s Healthy Connections program, run by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). You can apply online at apply.scdhhs.gov, by phone at (888) 549-0820, by mail using Form 3400, or in person at a county SCDHHS office.1SCDHHS. Getting Started One thing to know before you start: South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid, so eligibility is limited to specific groups, not low income alone. The online application takes about 15 minutes once you have your documents in hand.
Who Qualifies for Healthy Connections
South Carolina Medicaid covers people who fit into a defined category and fall below an income limit tied to that category.2South Carolina Legislature. 2025-2026 Bill 3109 – Medicaid Expansion Income limits are expressed as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For 2026, the FPL is $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four.3HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States
The main covered groups and their income ceilings:
- Parents and caretaker relatives, up to 62 percent of FPL. For a family of three, that is roughly $16,938 per year or about $1,412 per month.4Medicaid. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels
- Pregnant women, up to 194 percent of FPL. A pregnant woman in a household of two can earn up to about $41,982 and still qualify.4Medicaid. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels
- Children from birth through age 18, up to 208 percent of FPL through the Partners for Healthy Children program. For a family of four, that is about $68,640 per year. South Carolina has no separate CHIP; children are covered directly through Medicaid.4Medicaid. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels
- Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) applicants: age 65 or older, blind, or permanently disabled, with income at or below 100 percent of FPL ($15,960 for an individual in 2026).
Asset Limits for ABD Applicants
ABD applicants are the only group subject to a resource test. As of January 2026, countable resources cannot exceed $9,950 for an individual or $14,910 for a couple.5SCDHHS. Program Eligibility and Income Limits Countable assets include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and secondary properties. Your primary home and one vehicle are generally excluded. These limits were raised recently, so if you were turned down in the past for having too many assets, it’s worth running the numbers again.
If You Don’t Fit a Category
A single adult without children and without a disability does not qualify for South Carolina Medicaid, no matter how low the income. Marketplace subsidies through healthcare.gov generally start at 100 percent of FPL, which leaves a group of people earning too little for either program. If this is your situation, check whether a disability-based pathway could apply, and look into community health centers that use sliding-scale fees.
Documents to Gather First
A complete application moves through processing much faster than one with gaps. Have these ready before you start:
- Social Security numbers for everyone in the household seeking coverage.
- Proof of South Carolina residency, such as a utility bill, lease, or recent piece of mail with your address.
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status, such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or permanent resident card.
- Income verification: recent pay stubs, your most recent federal tax return, or an employer letter. Self-employed applicants should bring profit-and-loss records.
- For ABD applicants only: bank statements, property records, and investment account statements.
The paper form is SCDHHS Form 3400, “Application for Medicaid and Affordable Health Coverage,” available on the SCDHHS website or at any county office.6SCDHHS. Forms Report gross monthly household income before any taxes or deductions. Household size follows tax filing rules, so count everyone you’d include on a return. Miscounting the household is one of the most common application errors, and it changes which FPL percentage applies to your case.
The Four Ways to Submit
- Online at apply.scdhhs.gov. This is the fastest route.1SCDHHS. Getting Started
- By phone at (888) 549-0820, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A representative will walk you through the form.7SCDHHS. Where to Go For Help
- By mail. Print and complete Form 3400 and mail it to the SCDHHS central processing address printed on the form.
- In person at your local county SCDHHS office during business hours.
Free help is available through SC Thrive, a nonprofit that partners with SCDHHS to assist applicants at no charge; links to SC Thrive are on the SCDHHS website.1SCDHHS. Getting Started Whichever method you use, keep copies of everything you send. If a question comes up later about what you reported, those copies are your evidence.
How Long Approval Takes
Federal rules set the deadlines. SCDHHS has 45 days from receipt of your completed application to make a decision for most applicants.8SCDHHS. FAQs If a disability determination is involved, the agency has 90 days because of the medical review.9eCFR. 42 CFR 435.912 – Timely Determination of Eligibility During this period, a caseworker verifies your income, checks state and federal databases, and confirms you fit a covered category. The decision comes to you by mail.
The clock only starts when SCDHHS treats your application as complete. If fields were left blank, or income documents are missing, the agency sends a request for more information and the processing period effectively resets. A thorough submission is the single biggest factor in a quick approval.
Coverage That Reaches Back Three Months
Medicaid can cover medical bills from up to three months before the month you apply, provided you met every eligibility requirement during those earlier months. If you had qualifying income and fit a covered category in that window, bills from that period may be paid retroactively. This matters most if you held off applying while a medical crisis played out. The start date of coverage is tied to when you became eligible, not when SCDHHS finishes paperwork, so a slow approval doesn’t shorten the lookback.
Keeping Your Coverage: Annual Renewal
Every 12 months, SCDHHS reviews whether you still qualify. The agency first tries to verify eligibility automatically using wage data and other sources it already has. If it can, you’ll get a Continuation of Benefits notice and don’t need to act.
If automatic verification isn’t possible, SCDHHS mails a renewal form. You have 60 days from the date on the notice to complete and return it. Miss the deadline and you can lose coverage even if you still qualify. The most common cause of lost coverage at renewal is a renewal notice sent to an old address. If you’ve moved, update your address through tools.apply.scdhhs.gov or by calling (888) 549-0820.
If Your Application Is Denied
A denial can be appealed. SCDHHS must send written notice of any adverse action and tell you about your hearing rights.10Legal Information Institute (LII). 42 CFR Part 431 Subpart E – Fair Hearings for Applicants and Beneficiaries You can request a fair hearing before a hearing officer by filing online through the SCDHHS website or by calling the Member Contact Center at (888) 549-0820.11SCDHHS. Appeals Federal regulations give you up to 90 days from the date on the adverse notice to request a hearing.
At the hearing, you can review your case file, bring witnesses, present evidence, and question any testimony against you. If you are a current beneficiary whose coverage is being reduced or terminated and you request a hearing before the effective date, benefits generally continue until the hearing officer rules.
Before appealing, read your denial letter carefully. The usual reasons are income just over the limit, missing documents, or not fitting a covered category. If the problem was missing paperwork, resubmitting a complete application is often faster than a hearing.