Medicare and health costs

Healthy Connections Medicaid in South Carolina

Healthy Connections is South Carolina's Medicaid program.

Checked Oct 28, 2026

From the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS)

An older woman in her kitchen reads a letter from the day's mail

People 65 and older may qualify for its Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) coverage with income up to the poverty level and savings up to $9,950 for one person, far above most states' savings limits. Nursing-home care and home-care waivers have a higher income limit.

How to apply in South Carolina

Online: apply.scdhhs.gov (official government site)
By phone: 1-888-549-0820
In person: At your local county SCDHHS office. SC Thrive can also help you fill out an application.
By mail: Mail the Healthy Connections application to SCDHHS-Central Mail, P.O. Box 100101, Columbia, SC 29202-3101.
Who runs it: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) (official government site)

Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.

Apply on the official site

Who may qualify in South Carolina

Who may qualify for Healthy Connections Medicaid
	One person	Married couple
Income limit (from March 1, 2026)	$1,330 a month (100% of the poverty level)	$1,804 a month (100% of the poverty level) Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 1)
Savings limit (from January 1, 2026)	$9,950	$14,910 Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 1)

Spend-down if your income is over the limit	No Source: KFF (source 2)
Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026)	$2,982 a month (300% of the SSI federal benefit rate), for nursing facilities and home and community-based waivers Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 1)
Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion)	No: South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under 65 Source: KFF (source 3)

How South Carolina is different

Where South Carolina's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.

Higher income limit: 100% of the poverty level
Much higher savings limit: $9,950 for one person, $14,910 for a couple
Help at home through Community Long Term Care (CLTC) waivers for people who need nursing-facility-level care

Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 1)

Good to know

To get nursing-home or waiver coverage you must need a nursing-facility level of care and be in a medical institution or on waiver services for 30 days in a row. For care at home, contact Healthy Connections about a Community Long Term Care (CLTC) assessment before applying.

Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (source 1)

Free help

Free help with this in South Carolina

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in South Carolina. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
1-800-868-9095
South Carolina Department on Aging website (official government site)
South Carolina Department on Aging (SCDOA)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
1-800-868-9095
South Carolina Department on Aging website (official government site)

More help in South Carolina

Medicaid for older adults in another state

Sources

South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Program Eligibility and Income Limits (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
KFF, Medicaid Eligibility Levels for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (Non-MAGI) in 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Checked Oct 28, 2026.

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