Health care

South Carolina: Medicaid

About this resource

Because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which became law in 2010, former/current foster youth under 26 years old are provided with free health insurance through the Medicaid state program.

States have to provide this medical coverage to eligible youth. However, States are NOT required to provide medical coverage to foster youth who move states (so if a person moves out of the state they experienced foster care). Foster youth who move states are usually called “Relocators.” Only 13 states have chosen to provide state Medicaid coverage to Relocators.

TO APPLY 

Submit an online application form (linked) 
Fill out the form and submit it electronically to: [email protected]

Printable application can be found on the website or linked here: South Carolina Application (linked)

Or by mail to your local county office

If you need, you can Find Local Help (linked), which is a tool to find agents and application assisters near you to help with your application or answer questions you may have. 

Eligibility

  • Aged out of foster care on your 18th+ birthday
  • Be a resident of South Carolina
  • MUST have signed up with Medicaid before aging out of foster care (or by the time of an individual's 18th birthday) 
  • Medicaid is provided through the end of the month of individual's 26th birthday