The survey was conducted by Cover SC, a coalition that advocates for state health insurance.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new report says that if Medicaid were expanded in 2026, South Carolina’s economic output would increase by $4.04 billion and county and state tax revenues would increase by $100 million.
South Carolina is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act, meaning some people below the poverty line still do not qualify for Medicaid and many remain uninsured.
Theresa Arnold, chair of the Cover South Carolina Medicaid Expansion Coalition, said the federal government would cover 90 percent of the expansion costs and the state would pay the remaining 10 percent.
“At the end of the day, this is a really good investment. If I put in a dollar and someone else puts in nine dollars, knowing that we’re going to get something amazing at the end, it’s really exciting.”
The report also said 29,000 new jobs would be created over the first three years and county and local tax revenues would increase by $345 million.
The governor rejected a proviso to create a commission to examine health care market reform in this year’s state budget, saying he is “not convinced that the expansion of Medicaid benefits that this Legislative Study Committee is tasked with examining is necessary, nor do I believe it to be fiscally responsible.”
The governor’s spokesperson said the findings haven’t changed the situation. In a statement to News19, they said, “Special interests have been putting out reports like this for years, arguing that billions of dollars in new spending to expand Medicaid would create new jobs and prosperity,” adding that the expansion would cost “$2.64 billion over the next decade.”
According to the report, 360,000 people statewide will gain full Medicaid coverage in 2026. Sue Berkowitz of the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center said the expansion benefits everyone, but those who have health insurance will be affected the most.
“If you take good care of your health and stay healthy, you’ll have a better overall quality of life and be more successful,” Berkowitz says.
The report also breaks down the economic impact by county, with smaller counties like Orangeburg and Sumter seeing over 6,000 people gaining Medicaid coverage and creating 700 jobs each.
