Transferring Medicaid from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
The short answer is no. Medicaid eligibility is decided by the state you live in, so leaving South Carolina closes that coverage. Your move to Pennsylvania means qualifying again under Pennsylvania income rules, through Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs). Apply immediately — there is no new-resident waiting period.
Eligibility usually gets easier in this direction: Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
Official Pennsylvania Medicaid agency: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs) ↗ (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 Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs) 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 Pennsylvania: the numbers that decide it
| South Carolina (old state) | Pennsylvania (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Healthy Connections | Medical Assistance (MA) |
| Agency | South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services | Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs) |
| 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 (Pennsylvania) 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 → Pennsylvania checklistCommon questions
Can I use my South Carolina Medicaid in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, you need Pennsylvania coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Pennsylvania?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania?
Through Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs) (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Pennsylvania to South Carolina Medicaid
- Medicaid in South Carolina: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Pennsylvania: 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
- PA DHS — Medicaid (Medical Assistance) — accessed 2026-08-08
- COMPASS (online application) — accessed 2026-08-08