South Carolina Medicaid Income Limits
Updated August 2026
SCDHHS updates income limits when federal poverty levels change, typically in March each year. The figures below are from the SCDHHS Program Eligibility and Income Limits page, effective March 1, 2026.
South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid — income limits are very restrictive for adults
Because SC did not expand Medicaid under the ACA, the income limit for parents and caretaker relatives is 62% of the Federal Poverty Level — one of the lowest thresholds for that category in the Southeast. Adults without children do not qualify at any income level unless they are aged, blind, or disabled.
Healthy Connections income limits by coverage group (effective March 2026)
| Coverage group | FPL % | Monthly limit (family of 1) | Monthly limit (family of 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parents/caretaker relatives | 62% | $824.60 | $1,705.00 |
| Children — Partners for Healthy Children | 208% | $2,766.40 | $5,720.00 |
| Pregnant women | 194% | $2,580.20 | $5,335.00 |
| Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) | 100% | $1,330.00 | $1,804.00 (family of 2) |
| Working disabled (with earned income) | 250% | $3,325.00 | $6,875.00 |
| Nursing facility / HCBS waivers | 300% FBR | $2,982.00 | Individual program only |
| Breast and cervical cancer treatment | 200% | $2,660.00 | $5,500.00 |
Parents/caretaker relatives
- FPL %
- 62%
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $824.60
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- $1,705.00
Children — Partners for Healthy Children
- FPL %
- 208%
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $2,766.40
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- $5,720.00
Pregnant women
- FPL %
- 194%
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $2,580.20
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- $5,335.00
Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD)
- FPL %
- 100%
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $1,330.00
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- $1,804.00 (family of 2)
Working disabled (with earned income)
- FPL %
- 250%
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $3,325.00
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- $6,875.00
Nursing facility / HCBS waivers
- FPL %
- 300% FBR
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $2,982.00
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- Individual program only
Breast and cervical cancer treatment
- FPL %
- 200%
- Monthly limit (family of 1)
- $2,660.00
- Monthly limit (family of 4)
- $5,500.00
Asset limits for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled category
The ABD coverage group has resource limits in addition to income limits. Effective January 1, 2026, per SCDHHS:
- Individual: $9,950 in countable resources
- Couple: $14,910 in countable resources
- Excluded resources: your primary home, one vehicle, household goods and personal items, burial funds up to certain limits
MAGI-based categories — including children, pregnant women, and parents/caretaker relatives — have no asset test. Savings and vehicles are not counted for these groups.
Parents at 62% FPL: why the limit is so low
South Carolina's 62% FPL threshold for parents and caretaker relatives reflects the state's pre-ACA eligibility rules. When Congress passed the ACA, states could choose to expand to 138% FPL for all adults — South Carolina chose not to. For a family of three in 2026, 62% FPL equates to roughly $1,411.53 per month in gross income, or about $16,938 annually.
A single parent earning above that threshold — even at minimum wage — generally cannot qualify for Healthy Connections unless they fall into another eligibility category. SCDHHS urges people who are unsure of their eligibility to apply anyway, since some situations qualify under categories that aren't obvious on first look.
South Carolina Medicaid (Healthy Connections)
Visit the official South Carolina Medicaid websiteRelated guides
Income Limits
Current income cutoffs by state and household size, tied to the Federal Poverty Level.
Read more →Spend-Down
How to qualify by deducting medical bills from income that's above the limit.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →