How to apply for Healthy Connections (Medicaid) in South Carolina
SNAP goes through the DSS Benefits Portal. Medicaid is called Healthy Connections and uses a separate SCDHHS portal and office list. We checked the public guidance. We did not sign in, submit an application or confirm an appointment.
What this guide helps you do
- Where it applies
- South Carolina · Medicaid
- Your next action
- Prepare an application, respond to requests and identify your next action.
- Who decides
- This guide explains a process. The responsible agency decides eligibility, amounts and deadlines for your case.
Start here
Open the official instructions below. Check which route matches your program and circumstances before starting an application.
Who this guide is for
People seeking Healthy Connections (Medicaid) in South Carolina, or helping someone apply, follow up or find the right office.
Have these ready if available
- The name of the program and the state where you are applying.
- Any notice or document request you have received, including its date.
- The information and evidence requested by the agency for your situation. Ask what alternatives it accepts if something is missing.
- A safe way for the agency to contact you. Do not enter personal or case details on GetBenefits.
Your steps
Start with Healthy Connections
Apply at apply.scdhhs.gov. SCDHHS says an ID.me account is not required for every action, including submitting a Medicaid application.
Choose another way if needed
If you need paper or local help, use the SCDHHS forms and local eligibility office list, or call 888-549-0820.
Keep track of the next step
After submitting online, save the confirmation. Use “Check Status/Update Information” for case information or document uploads.
Keep proof and a way to follow up
If you submit an application or documents, keep the receipt or confirmation the agency provides. Check that it received the correct material; a saved draft may not have been submitted.
Read the decision and the next instructions
Look for the result, any missing information and the date for the action requested. If you disagree, use the review or appeal instructions on your notice. Do not assume that asking for help extends a deadline.
After you apply
Keep the confirmation and read each notice. Check whether the agency needs documents, an interview or another action. A submitted application is not an approval.
If you get stuck
“I am trying to apply for this program. Which route applies to my situation, what information is missing and what is my next action?”
If something gets in the way
I cannot use the website
Ask the agency about another application or contact method. Use the official instructions and avoid giving documents to an unverified intermediary.
I do not have a requested document
Ask what evidence the agency can accept and how to provide it. Read the due date in the actual request; do not choose a deadline from a general guide.
I need language or accessibility help
Describe the language or accommodation you need before the interview or appointment. Ask how the agency provides that help.
I have not received a response
Check the official account or contact the responsible office with the confirmation available. Ask whether the application was received and what is still needed.
I received a denial or closure notice
Read the reason and the review or appeal instructions. Keep the notice and seek qualified help if needed; sending a new application may not replace the response requested.
After you apply: keep the process moving
Check receipt
Confirm that the agency received what you meant to submit.
Keep contact details current
Use the agency’s official method to report changes in your contact details.
Answer document requests
Read what is needed, how to send it and the date stated in the request.
Check for an interview or appointment
If one is requested, confirm the time, format and any language or accessibility support.
Read the written decision
Check what was decided, the effective dates and how to question the decision.
Keep renewal instructions
Read the next renewal or review notice and act on its actual instructions.
Find the office that handles your area
Use DSS county contacts for SNAP. Healthy Connections has a separate list of local Medicaid eligibility offices.
Agency or program
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)
More detail from the previous guide
Read the complete details, tables and questions
The previous guide is preserved below with its original dates. The new access instructions do not reverify every older rule or income figure. Check the dated source and the agency before relying on a figure or deadline.
Medicaid in South Carolina: 2026 Eligibility and How to Apply
South Carolina’s program is Healthy Connections Medicaid. Adult eligibility depends on a qualifying category; children, pregnancy, disability and older age have separate routes that are worth checking individually.
South Carolina did not expand Medicaid, so adult rules are stricter. Children and pregnant women can still qualify, often at higher income. Marketplace eligibility, financial help, and when you may enroll are separate questions; ask the Marketplace to check all three.
⚠ South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid
South Carolina has not adopted the broad ACA adult expansion route. Adults without children, a disability, or another qualifying reason may not be able to get Medicaid here even with very low income — but it's still worth applying, and checking the ACA Marketplace.
Who qualifies for Medicaid in South Carolina
Low income alone does not establish adult eligibility. Ask the agency to check the relevant coverage category:
- Children, through Medicaid or CHIP, with age-specific state income rules.
- Pregnant women, at higher income limits.
- People with disabilities and older adults, under separate rules.
- Parents and caretaker relatives, only if they meet the state’s separate income and relationship rules. Having a child is not approval.
Adults who don't fit these groups may fall into the coverage gap. If that's you, check the ACA Marketplace — though subsidies can be limited below the poverty line.
Healthy Connections: ask about the category, not only the income
South Carolina has not adopted the broad ACA adult expansion route. Healthy Connections lists parent and caretaker relatives, children, pregnancy, people age 65 or older, people with disabilities and other specific groups. A child’s eligibility does not automatically establish the parent’s eligibility.
For a child with a disability, ask about the Katie Beckett TEFRA category. SCDHHS describes it as a route for certain children who would otherwise be ineligible because of their parents’ income or resources. Disability and other program criteria still need an official review.
The Healthy Connections portal has separate options to start an application, submit an annual review, and check or update case information. If you already have coverage and received a review notice, use the review instructions for that case rather than assuming a new application replaces them.
State sources: SCDHHS: eligibility and income limits · SCDHHS: member FAQs · SCDHHS: getting started · Checked September 8, 2026.
2026 Medicaid income limits in South Carolina
South Carolina doesn't use the 138% adult expansion limit. Limits depend on the group (children, pregnant women, parents, disability) and are set by the state. Because they vary by category, the most reliable step is to apply and let South Carolina check every category you might fit.
Source: Medicaid eligibility and expansion status — HealthCare.gov
How to apply for Medicaid in South Carolina
- Use the Healthy Connections portal. Start at Apply SCDHHS. Choose a new application or the annual-review option that matches the notice you received.
- Ask for each relevant category. Explain the applicant’s age, family relationship, pregnancy or disability. For a child with a disability and higher family income, ask about Katie Beckett TEFRA.
- Get direct help. Call Healthy Connections at 888-549-0820 for application help or a paper form. Keep your address current and follow the date on the information or annual-review notice.
Application instructions: SCDHHS: member FAQs · Checked September 8, 2026.
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Explore your next stepCommon questions
Did South Carolina expand Medicaid?
No. As of 2026, South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid, so adult eligibility is limited to specific groups like children's caretakers, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities.
What is the Medicaid income limit in South Carolina for 2026?
South Carolina doesn't use a single adult limit because it hasn't expanded Medicaid. Limits vary by group (children, pregnant women, disability), so it's best to apply.
Can parental income rule out every South Carolina Medicaid route for a disabled child?
No. SCDHHS describes Katie Beckett TEFRA for certain children with disabilities who would otherwise be ineligible because of parental income or resources. It has its own conditions. Ask Healthy Connections to assess that category rather than comparing the child only with an adult income limit.
Eligibility guidance reviewed September 8, 2026. Sources and reference periods are shown above. Confirm current category rules with the agency before applying.
Common questions
Does this guide decide if I qualify?
No. The state agency evaluates the applicable program rules and your circumstances. Ask the agency to explain the route and documents for your case.
What if I cannot use the online route?
Open the official information or local office link and ask which phone, paper or in-person option is available for this program. Do not assume all programs use the same portal.
Is the linked service available in these four languages?
Our guide is translated. The external site, forms and interpretation options may differ. Tell the agency which spoken and written language you need.
Official sources
- SCDHHS — Getting startedSources checked: 2026-09-14
- SCDHHS — FAQsSources checked: 2026-09-14
- SCDHHS — Where to go for helpSources checked: 2026-09-14