Transferring Medicaid from South Carolina to New Jersey
Your coverage does not follow the moving truck. South Carolina Medicaid ends when residency ends, and New Jersey requires a fresh application with New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services. Time the old case to close at the end of your move month, then file in New Jersey right away to shrink the gap.
Eligibility usually gets easier in this direction: New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
Official New Jersey Medicaid agency: New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health 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 New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health 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 New Jersey: the numbers that decide it
| South Carolina (old state) | New Jersey (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Healthy Connections | NJ FamilyCare |
| Agency | South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services | New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health 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 (New Jersey) 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 → New Jersey checklistCommon questions
Can I use my South Carolina Medicaid in New Jersey 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 New Jersey, you need New Jersey coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in New Jersey?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on New Jersey'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 New Jersey?
Through New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: New Jersey to South Carolina Medicaid
- Medicaid in South Carolina: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in New Jersey: 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
- NJ FamilyCare — Who is eligible — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJ FamilyCare home — accessed 2026-08-08