Transferring Medicaid from South Carolina to Connecticut
Think of it as two separate programs: Healthy Connections ends with your residency, and HUSKY Health begins with a new application. Nothing carries over automatically. Submit the Connecticut application as soon as you have an address there.
Eligibility usually gets easier in this direction: Connecticut has adopted Medicaid expansion (adults up to 138% of the federal poverty level), while South Carolina has not — many adults who were denied in South Carolina qualify in Connecticut.
Official Connecticut Medicaid agency: Connecticut Department of Social 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 South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services you are leaving
Contact the Healthy Connections Medicaid Member Contact Center at (888) 549-0820 to report changes to your case, including an out-of-state move.
South Carolina Department of Health and Human 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 Connecticut Department of Social 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.
South Carolina vs Connecticut: the numbers that decide it
| South Carolina (old state) | Connecticut (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Healthy Connections | HUSKY Health |
| Agency | South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services | Connecticut Department of Social Services |
| ACA Medicaid expansion | No — adults need a category | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | not published as % FPL | 138% of the federal poverty level |
Verified 2026-08-08 (South Carolina) and 2026-08-08 (Connecticut) 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 South Carolina → Connecticut checklistCommon questions
Can I use my South Carolina Medicaid in Connecticut while I wait?
Generally no. South Carolina Medicaid only pays providers for South Carolina residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Connecticut, you need Connecticut coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Connecticut?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Connecticut'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 South Carolina case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Connecticut?
Through Connecticut Department of Social Services (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Connecticut to South Carolina Medicaid
- Medicaid in South Carolina: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Connecticut: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- South Carolina to California Medicaid
- South Carolina to Texas Medicaid
- South Carolina to Florida Medicaid
- South Carolina to New York Medicaid
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- SCDHHS — Getting Started (how to apply) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SCDHHS — Program Eligibility and Income Limits — accessed 2026-08-08
- CT DSS — HUSKY D (Medicaid for lowest income populations) — accessed 2026-08-08
- HUSKY Health program gateway — accessed 2026-08-08