Medicaid Assistance

Eligibility is determined annually for South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid health coverage based on several factors, which may include your age, whether you are pregnant, have a disability, your income and assets; and whether you are a U.S. citizen or lawfully present. You might qualify for assistance if:

The amount of income you can have can be different based on which eligibility category you are in and how many people are in your family. For some of the groups, there is also a limit on the value of what you own and your eligibility may be affected if you have given something away. 

Learn about what Healthy Connections health coverage options are available to you and your family.

Please Note: Members must complete a review each year to stay in the Healthy Connections Medicaid program. 

Already Have SC Medicaid?

Learn when to expect your annual renewal to happen and if you are still eligible using the SC DHHS Quick Tools.

South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid paused its standard annual review process in March 2020. This was done due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The federal government has directed state Medicaid agencies to restart the standard annual eligibility review process. South Carolina’s will restart April 1, 2023.

This does not mean all cases are up for review on April 1. The state will review groups of cases each month over the next 12 months. You will be contacted by mail when it is time for your review. This gives you time to get any needed documents. 

Find your expected annual review date and other information related to your annual review online, using the "Check Review Status" tool.

Learn more about Healthy Connections Medicaid annual review resources.

The state will try to renew your Medicaid with info they already have, such as electronic data about your current pay, or other eligibility requirements. If they can confirm eligibility, you will simply receive a “continuation of benefits” notice. This means your Medicaid will extend another year. If they cannot verify your eligibility, they will send you a form to complete and return.

If they need to send you a review form, they will notify you by mail and text message (if a mobile phone number is on file) so you can prepare. Once you receive your form, you will need to complete and return it. The date it is due will be included on the form. Once they receive your form, your coverage will continue while your case is reviewed. When they finish, you will receive a notice with a decision.

If you do not have some of the info, fill out as much as you can. Then return your completed form. They will let you know if they need anything.

If the due date has passed, return the form anyway. You may still be covered. If you do not return the form, you may lose your Medicaid coverage.

Have you moved or changed your phone number in the last couple of years?

Make sure SC Healthy Connections Medicaid has your current contact info!

Update your contact info:

• Online using the “Change of address" tool
• Call 888-549-0820 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday - Friday
• Visit your local eligibility office:

Beaufort County
1905 Duke Street
Beaufort, South Carolina 29902-4403

Hampton County
102 Ginn Altman Avenue, Suite B
Hampton, South Carolina 29924-3962

Jasper County
10908 North Jacob Smart Boulevard
Ridgeland, South Carolina 29936-2708

Get more details on the Annual Eligibility Review Update Member Fact Sheet (English, Spanish) 

If the state determines that you no longer qualify for Medicaid assistance, you may be eligible for a low-cost or zero-premium Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plan. Losing Medicaid or CHIP coverage is considered a Qualifying Life Event and will allow you to enroll in a Marketplace plan outside of the usual open enrollment period. 

Resources to assist with obtaining coverage:

• Beaufort Memorial has partnered with Resource Corporation of America (RCA) to provide help to patients with their reapplication process and finding other coverage if they are found to no longer be eligible for Medicaid. Call 877-224-7708 toll-free to speak with a counselor, complete a quick evaluation and get help with enrollment.

• SC Thrive provides help connecting individuals to various resources, including reapplying for SC Medicaid, and assisting in the Marketplace registration process. SC Thrive can be reached by email at contact@scthrive.org or calling 800-726-8774. Their contact center is open 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, Monday-Friday.

• The Palmetto Project assists patients in either reapplying for Medicaid or determining eligibility for a Marketplace plan and assisting the patient in the registration process. The Charleston Palmetto Project office is available at 843-577-4122 or by email at charleston@palmettoproject.org.

• Insure SC offers in-person, over-the-phone assistance with enrollment and information about health coverage options including Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and private insurance. Insure SC is an initiative of Palmetto Project and all services are free. Complete their online form to make an appointment or call 888-998-4646.

Providers are asked to encourage their patients to update their mailing address and contact information with SCDHHS if changes have occurred since March 2020. 

You can post the change of address flyers shown below in your practice or clinic. Download the pdf files and print change of address flyers in English and Spanish.

You can also help your patients understand that the standard annual reviews process restarted April 1, 2023, and their Medicaid coverage may be impacted after that date. Members may receive an annual review form or continuation of benefits notice in the mail from SCDHHS.

Patients should visit the SCDHHS website for the latest information and resources about Medicaid annual eligibility reviews.

Additional information is available in the SCDHHS Provider Fact Sheet and the CMS Medicaid and Chip Eligibility Renewals Communications Toolkit.