Fact Check: One-fifth of South Carolina residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare.

Fact Check: "One-fifth of South Carolina residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare."

What We Know

According to the January 2025 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights, there were approximately 71 million people enrolled in Medicaid across the United States. In South Carolina specifically, the Medicaid Enrollment Dashboard indicates that there were about 1.4 million individuals enrolled in the Healthy Connections Medicaid program as of January 2025. Given that South Carolina's estimated population is around 5 million, this suggests that approximately 28% of residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare.

The enrollment data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) shows that the total enrollment figures include various categories such as children, disabled adults, and seniors, but the total number of individuals enrolled is a point-in-time count, which is crucial for understanding the overall reliance on Medicaid in the state.

Analysis

The claim that "one-fifth of South Carolina residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare" is based on the percentage of the population enrolled in the Medicaid program. While the claim simplifies the reality, the actual percentage is significantly higher than 20%. The data from the SCDHHS indicates that about 1.4 million South Carolinians are enrolled in Medicaid, which translates to approximately 28% of the state's population.

However, it is important to note that the enrollment figures can fluctuate due to various factors, including changes in eligibility criteria and the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which temporarily increased enrollment numbers. The January 2025 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights also emphasizes that these figures represent a snapshot in time and may not account for those who may have been disenrolled or newly enrolled since the data was collected.

The sources used for this analysis are credible, with the SCDHHS being the official state agency responsible for Medicaid administration, and the CMS report providing national and state-level data. Both sources are reliable for understanding Medicaid enrollment trends.

Conclusion

The claim that "one-fifth of South Carolina residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare" is Partially True. While the claim suggests that 20% of the population relies on Medicaid, the actual figure is closer to 28%. This discrepancy highlights the importance of precise data representation and the need for updated statistics to reflect current enrollment accurately.

Fact Check: One-fifth of South Carolina residents rely on Medicaid for healthcare.