The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion in South Carolina and around the country is a set of new guidelines made possible by new government policies. The Affordable Care Act, known as the ACA and sometimes Obamacare, introduced the Medicaid expansion to offer new possibilities for states to expand medical coverage. The ACA Medicaid expansion created the opportunity for more people to get affordable coverage provided by the program. However, Obamacare Medicaid expansion details are not mandatory, and the program allowed each state to decide whether or not to accept the new coverage guidelines. As with the standard Medicaid program, the ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states is primarily covered by the federal government. However, costs associated with the expansion of Medicaid are still a concern to some states and serve as grounds for not adopting the new guidelines. The main change is the Affordable Care Act Medicaid eligibility requirements, which the new rules made more lenient. Under the Medicaid expansion, residents qualify for aid simply based on income levels. Potential beneficiaries who fall below a percentage above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) qualify regardless of other, previously necessary factors such as age, disability or pregnancy. Get answers to the question “What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in SC?” by reading through the sections below.

What is the expansion of Medicaid in South Carolina?

The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion is an option available to all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Currently, 19 states have chosen not to expand Medicaid under the new guidelines, and this group includes South Carolina. Residents will not meet eligibility requirements for Medicaid unless they meet the already existing established requirements. The ACA expansion of Medicaid made a path for millions of citizens to get affordable medical coverage. However, in states like South Carolina, where ACA Medicaid expansion did not occur, coverage did not extend to the state’s hundreds of thousands of residents who would have qualified under the new rules.

What does opting out of the ACA Medicaid expansion mean for South Carolina?

The lack of an Obamacare expansion of Medicaid in South Carolina did not affect the eligibility requirements already in place. The expansion of Medicaid is an optional set of rules. Residents seeking to take advantage of Medicaid will face the same Medicaid application process as before. Additionally, those previously ineligible for Medicaid will not have a change in their eligibility status. The ACA Medicaid expansion featured the goal of spreading coverage out to more low-income individuals. Since South Carolina did not accept the expansion, these residents have little to no potential for coverage. However, the program continues to cover beneficiaries such as pregnant women, children, the disabled and elderly. Additionally, other SC Medicaid eligibility requirements are still in place as well, such as income and financial resources available to applicants. Petitioners of Medicaid will still need to meet all the eligibility requirements as determined by state officials. For residents seeking aid, obtaining an Affordable Care Act Medicaid application in South Carolina is not necessary. To learn more about applying for Medicaid and Medicaid requirements, you can download our complimentary guide today.

As with the Medicaid program, ACA Medicaid expansion details are created federally and enforced on a state level. The ACA expansion of Medicaid further provides financial aid to states to control the costs of any new guidelines. Failing to expand Medicaid in South Carolina was disappointing for residents hoping to get access to affordable care. More than 100,000 residents fall into a “coverage gap,” which leaves them without the possibility of receiving Medicaid coverage or low-cost coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace. Guidelines introduced by the ACA expansion of Medicaid remain an option for any state that has yet to take advantage of the new guidelines.

Will South Carolina ever expand its Medicaid program?

Currently, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion will not be implemented in South Carolina in any way. The concern for lawmakers includes costs to the state and more. Furthermore, as policies change in Congress, the ACA Medicaid expansion may become obsolete and replaced by new guidelines. Such uncertainty leads some states to stay out of the expansion. Residents seeking medical assistance can therefore ignore the ACA Medicaid application, and instead use the process for getting Medicaid that is already in place. Although the ACA Medicaid expansion in South Carolina did not occur, candidates who do not qualify for Medicaid in SC may be eligible for other programs, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).