The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the South Carolina Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. In South Carolina, Medicaid is called Healthy Connections.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for South Carolina Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in South Carolina and how it works.
Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.
It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
How Many People are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:
- 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
- 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
- 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP
South Carolina Medicaid
The South Carolina Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.
As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 1.1 million people.
This includes 679,000 children as shown by the image below.
In South Carolina, Medicaid is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS).
Who Can Get Medicaid in South Carolina?
You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:
- You think you are pregnant
- The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
- You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
- An adult age 65 or older.
- You are legally blind.
- Living with a disability or disabled.
- You are in need of nursing home care.
South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit
The South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the South Carolina Medicaid Income limits listed below.
Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.
| 2021 Federal Poverty Levels for the 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | |||
| Household Size | Poverty Guideline for 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $12,880 | $16,090 | $14,820 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $21,770 | $20,040 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $27,450 | $25,260 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $33,130 | $30,480 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $38,810 | $35,700 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $44,490 | $40,920 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $50,170 | $46,140 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $55,850 | $51,360 |
| Over 8 people | add $4,540 for each additional person | $5,680 | $5,220 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:
- Children up to age 1 with family income up to 208 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 208 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 208 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 208 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 194 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 95 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 100% of the FPL
South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The South Carolina Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.
For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.
Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in South Carolina who qualify for Medicaid.
South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit for Children
Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.
| South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 208% | 208% | 208% | 208% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $26,790 | $26,790 | $26,790 | $26,790 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $36,234 | $36,234 | $36,234 | $36,234 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $45,677 | $45,677 | $45,677 | $45,677 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $55,120 | $55,120 | $55,120 | $55,120 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $64,563 | $64,563 | $64,563 | $64,563 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $74,006 | $74,006 | $74,006 | $74,006 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $83,450 | $83,450 | $83,450 | $83,450 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $92,893 | $92,893 | $92,893 | $92,893 | |
Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.
South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents do not qualify for Medicaid in South Carolina.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in South Carolina, see our South Carolina Medicaid Expansion update below.
South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| South Carolina Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 194% | 95% | 100% | NO | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $24,987 | $12,236 | $12,880 | N/A |
| 2 | $17,420 | $33,795 | $16,549 | $17,420 | N/A | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $42,602 | $20,862 | $21,960 | N/A | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $51,410 | $25,175 | $26,500 | N/A | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $60,218 | $29,488 | $31,040 | N/A | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $69,025 | $33,801 | $35,580 | N/A | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $77,833 | $38,114 | $40,120 | N/A | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $86,640 | $42,427 | $44,660 | N/A | |
How to Read the South Carolina Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above
You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.
Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.
For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 194% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $33,795 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for South Carolina Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in South Carolina.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Healthy Connections Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your Healthy Connections account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at Healthy Connections County Office Near You
You can apply in person at the South Carolina Healthy Connections County office near you. Click here to locate an office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can call the main customer service line at (888) 549-0820 and have an application mailed to you.
You can return your application and supporting documents electronically to 8888201204@fax.scdhhs.gov.
You can also mail it to:
SCDHHS-Central Mail
P.O. Box 100101
Columbia, SC 29202-3101
or at your local county office.
In addition, you may apply in person at federally qualified rural health centers and at most hospitals. TTY: 888-842-3620
South Carolina Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the South Carolina Medicaid Agency:
1-(888) 549-0820
TTY: 1- 888-842-3620
You can call the Healthy Connections Member Contact Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
*Days and hours may vary due to state holidays and inclement weather.
South Carolina Medicaid Expansion Update
Medicaid has not been expanded in South Carolina.
It is estimated that about 312,000 additional people would be covered if the state accepted Medicaid expansion under the ACA.
However, the state has received federal approval for a Medicaid work requirement that will apply to low-income parents.
Additionally, a separate waiver extends Medicaid eligibility to low-income parents earning up to 100% of the poverty level (up from the current 67% threshold).
Furthermore, this waiver applies to low-income adults who are chronically homeless, in need of substance abuse treatment, or involved with the justice system.
South Carolina Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on South Carolina Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of South Carolina, you can ask us in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
South Dakota Medicaid Eligibility Income Limit
Texas Medicaid Income Limits