Getting care in South Carolina without insurance

What is Healthy Connections and who can get it?

Healthy Connections is the name of Medicaid in South Carolina. The state says the people who are usually eligible include children, parents and caretaker relatives, pregnant women, people over 65 and people with disabilities.

Parents and caretakers need a dependent child living in the home. A dependent child is a child who relies on you for support. The income limit for this group is low. In 2026 the state sets it at about $1,411 a month for a family of three. That is roughly 62 percent of the federal poverty level, a yearly income line the government uses to measure poverty.

Other adults are generally left out of Medicaid in South Carolina. That includes adults with no child at home who are not pregnant, disabled or 65 or older. They can have a very low income and still be turned down.

The coverage gap in South Carolina

KFF, a health policy research group, lists South Carolina among the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid. Expansion is the choice most states made to cover nearly all adults with low incomes. Without it, some South Carolinians earn too little for Medicaid and too little for help with Marketplace costs.

Marketplace help with monthly premiums generally starts once your income reaches the poverty level. Someone below that line, with no child at home, can fall into a gap with neither choice open. Community health centers were built to serve people in exactly this situation.

How do I apply for Healthy Connections?

The state asks people to apply even when they are not sure they qualify, and it costs nothing. There are several ways to apply.

• You can apply online on the state Medicaid agency's website.
• You can call the Member Contact Center at (888) 549-0820 on weekdays, from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening.
• You can apply at HealthCare.gov. If you look eligible for Medicaid, HealthCare.gov sends your application to the state.
• You can apply in person at your county office, at community health centers, rural health clinics and most hospitals.
• You can mail or fax a paper application to the state.

If you are approved, you must renew every year. Keep your phone number and address current so the state can reach you about your renewal.

Two special Medicaid programs

Some people who do not qualify for full Medicaid can still get help with specific needs. The Family Planning program covers men and women whose family income is at or below 194 percent of the poverty level. That is about $2,580 a month for one person. You cannot use it if you qualify for full Medicaid in another group.

The Breast and Cervical Cancer program gives full Medicaid benefits to uninsured people under 65. It is for people who are found to need treatment for breast cancer, cervical cancer or certain pre-cancer changes. A doctor or the state's Best Chance Network must screen you, and your income must be at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. Your screening clinic can tell you how to apply.

If you do not qualify for Medicaid

South Carolina uses the Marketplace on HealthCare.gov, and the help with monthly costs depends on your income. If you lost job-based coverage, our guide on what to do after losing insurance lists the steps. Our Medicaid gap guide covers what to do when you fall between the two.

Finding a community health center in South Carolina

The South Carolina Primary Health Care Association supports the state's community health centers, and its website has a Find a Health Center link. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) also has a free Find a Health Center tool where you enter your zip code. Please call the center before you go. Ask how to become a new patient, what proof of income to bring and what the visit will cost.

Our guide to community health centers explains how the fees work, and our guide on free clinics, health centers and cash-pay doctors can help you compare your choices.

How can I check that a South Carolina doctor is licensed?

The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners licenses medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, physician assistants and several other professionals. Its website has a Licensee Lookup link, which is a free public search. You can find it by searching the web for the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners licensee lookup.

A license does not tell you how good a doctor is, but it shows the doctor is approved to practice in the state. It is smart to look before you pay a membership fee.

Direct primary care in South Carolina

We could not confirm that South Carolina has a direct primary care law. A bill was introduced in the state House in February 2025 to say these agreements are not insurance. The legislature's page showed it still in committee when we checked.

A missing law does not mean you cannot join a practice. It means you should read the written agreement with care and ask what it covers. Our directory lists cash-pay doctors that you can search by location. Direct primary care is a monthly fee for regular visits, and it is not insurance, so it does not pay for the emergency room or a hospital stay. Our direct primary care guide and our guide on whether it counts as insurance explain more.

Emergencies in South Carolina

For chest pain, trouble breathing or heavy bleeding, call 911 or go straight to an emergency room. A federal law called EMTALA requires the emergency room to examine you and stabilize you, whether or not you have insurance.

Our guides on emergency room care without insurance and hospital financial assistance show how to deal with the bill.