Transferring Medicaid from Kentucky to South Carolina
Moving ends your Kentucky Medicaid — the program is state-bound. The good news: South Carolina lets you apply right away through South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, with no waiting period for new residents. Keep the two cases from overlapping by closing Kentucky coverage effective the month you leave.
Warning: South Carolina has not adopted Medicaid expansion, so adults who qualified in Kentucky on income alone (up to 138% of the federal poverty level) may not qualify in South Carolina at all. Check South Carolina's categories before you move, and look at HealthCare.gov marketplace coverage as the fallback.
Official South Carolina Medicaid agency: South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Gather your documents before the move
You will reapply from scratch: proof of identity, income (pay stubs or award letters), your new address, and immigration documents if applicable.
- 2
Tell Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services you are leaving
Apply for and manage Medicaid — including reporting household changes — through kynect benefits, or contact the DCBS call center at (855) 306-8959.
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services ↗
Moving week
- 3
Time the closure to the end of your move month
Keep coverage through the month you travel. Your old state's coverage generally ends the month you stop being a resident.
After you arrive
- 4
Apply with South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as soon as you arrive
There is no waiting period based on how long you have lived there — apply immediately. Processing: up to 45 days.
Online application ↗ - 5
Ask about retroactive coverage
Most states can cover eligible medical bills up to 3 months before your application date — ask when you apply if you had care during the gap.
Kentucky vs South Carolina: the numbers that decide it
| Kentucky (old state) | South Carolina (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Kentucky Medicaid | Healthy Connections |
| Agency | Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services | South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services |
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income | No — adults need a category |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level | not published as % FPL |
Verified 2026-08-08 (Kentucky) and 2026-08-08 (South Carolina) against the official sources cited below.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Kentucky → South Carolina checklistCommon questions
Can I use my Kentucky Medicaid in South Carolina while I wait?
Generally no. Kentucky Medicaid only pays providers for Kentucky residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in South Carolina, you need South Carolina coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in South Carolina?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on South Carolina's income and category rules from the day you become a resident. The application itself takes up to 45 days.
Can I have Medicaid in two states at once?
No. You can only receive Medicaid from the state where you live. Keeping an old case open while opening a new one can create repayment problems — close the Kentucky case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in South Carolina?
Through South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- CHFS — How to Apply for Medicaid — accessed 2026-08-08
- kynect — Medicaid, KCHIP & APTC — accessed 2026-08-08
- SCDHHS — Getting Started (how to apply) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SCDHHS — Program Eligibility and Income Limits — accessed 2026-08-08