Transferring Medicaid from West Virginia to South Carolina
You cannot carry West Virginia Medicaid into South Carolina. Each state runs its own program, so the sequence is: close the West Virginia case at the end of your move month, then apply with Healthy Connections immediately. New residents qualify on income, not on time lived in the state.
Warning: South Carolina has not adopted Medicaid expansion, so adults who qualified in West Virginia 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 West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical Services you are leaving
Call the DoHS hotline at 1-877-716-1212 to report a change in your situation (agency wording), or report changes through your WV PATH account.
West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical 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.
West Virginia vs South Carolina: the numbers that decide it
| West Virginia (old state) | South Carolina (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | West Virginia Medicaid | Healthy Connections |
| Agency | West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical 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 (West Virginia) 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 West Virginia → South Carolina checklistCommon questions
Can I use my West Virginia Medicaid in South Carolina while I wait?
Generally no. West Virginia Medicaid only pays providers for West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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
- Moving back: South Carolina to West Virginia Medicaid
- Medicaid in West Virginia: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in South Carolina: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- West Virginia to California Medicaid
- West Virginia to Texas Medicaid
- West Virginia to Florida Medicaid
- West Virginia to New York Medicaid
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- WV BMS — Applying for Healthcare (WV PATH, DoHS hotline) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SCDHHS — Getting Started (how to apply) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SCDHHS — Program Eligibility and Income Limits — accessed 2026-08-08