Insurance

Medicaid

Healthy Connections Medicaid accepted — dental care that doesn't wait.

Yes — Todays Dental West Columbia participates in South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid, whose dental benefits are administered through DentaQuest. Finding a Medicaid dentist in West Columbia shouldn’t mean calling ten offices: we welcome new members across every benefit group — children under 21, adults 21 and older, and ID/RD Waiver members — handle the paperwork, and book real appointments at our 115 Medical Cir office. Exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and gentle pediatric dentistry are covered for eligible members — call 803-233-8177 and we will verify your coverage with you on the phone.

Medicaid dental plans accepted in West Columbia, SC

Medicaid Plans We Accept

We see South Carolina Medicaid members enrolled through Healthy Connections and its managed care organizations. Whichever plan issued your card, dental benefits are administered through DentaQuest.

Absolute Total Care
First Choice by Select Health of South Carolina
Healthy Blue by BlueChoice of SC
Healthy Connections
Humana Healthy Horizons in SC
Molina Healthcare of South Carolina

Not sure if your specific plan is covered? Insurance coverage and benefits vary by plan. Please contact our office or your insurance provider to verify your specific benefits and eligibility.

South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid

Our dental office participates in South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid and provides dental services to eligible Medicaid members according to applicable program guidelines. South Carolina Medicaid dental benefits are administered through DentaQuest.

Dental benefits vary by Medicaid eligibility category. The common dental benefit groups are:

Children and adolescents under age 21 — benefit group 7003002002.
Adults age 21 and older — benefit group 7003002003.
Healthy Connections ID/RD Waiver members — benefit group 7003002001.

South Carolina Medicaid adult dental annual maximum

The Adult Annual Maximum

The standard South Carolina Healthy Connections adult dental benefit has a $1,000 annual maximum per member per benefit year, and that benefit year runs from 1 July through 30 June — not the calendar year.

That matters when you are planning treatment: benefits reset in July, so work started late in the benefit year may be better staged across the reset. Children under 21 and ID/RD Waiver members have no annual maximum.

We check your remaining benefit with DentaQuest before scheduling, so you know what is left in your year before treatment begins.

South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid card and MCO card

About Your Medicaid Card

A Medicaid member may have more than one card, depending on how coverage is administered. Bring whichever cards you have and we will sort out the rest.

Healthy Connections Medicaid card: the primary Medicaid identification card issued by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS).
Managed care organization (MCO) card: members enrolled in managed care may receive a separate card for medical services. Current MCOs include Absolute Total Care, BlueChoice / Healthy Blue, Humana Healthy Horizons, Molina, and Select Health / First Choice.
DentaQuest dental information: dental benefit information may also be available through DentaQuest, including digital member information.

Important: the MCO printed on a medical Medicaid card does not necessarily administer the dental benefit. South Carolina Medicaid dental benefits are administered through DentaQuest.

What to bring to a Medicaid dental appointment in West Columbia, SC

What to Bring to Your Medicaid Dental Appointment

Bring what you have. If a card is missing, call us before your visit and we will try to confirm your eligibility ahead of time.

South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid card
Medicaid MCO card, if one was issued
Your DentaQuest dental information or digital ID card, if available
Photo ID when requested by the dental office

Member Portal & Verifying Coverage

Members can reach Healthy Connections Medicaid information and online services through the official member portal:

SC Healthy Connections Medicaid member portal, or general Healthy Connections assistance on 1-888-549-0820. Prefer that we handle it? Call 803-233-8177 and we will run the eligibility check for you.

Coverage notice: Medicaid dental benefits vary by member eligibility category and may change. Coverage depends on current eligibility, benefit category, age, frequency limitations, clinical criteria, documentation, authorization requirements, and applicable benefit maximums. This page is general patient education and does not guarantee eligibility, coverage, payment, or approval of any service — official Medicaid and DentaQuest eligibility and benefit information controls if it differs from this page.

Benefit grid

Medicaid Dental Benefit Summary

Frequency limits as published in the plan's own benefit schedule. Limits depend on your eligibility category and benefit history — our team verifies your specific coverage before treatment.

Medicaid Dental Benefit Summary

Frequency limits below come from the DentaQuest benefit schedules for the three South Carolina Healthy Connections groups. The last column flags whether the service needs prior authorization — we file those for you. On a phone, scroll the table sideways.

Service	Child (under 21)	Adult (21+)	ID/RD Waiver	Prior auth required?
Annual dollar limit	No annual maximum	$1,000 per plan year	No annual maximum	N/A
Periodic oral evaluation	1 per 6 months	1 per 12 months	1 per 6 months	No
Problem-focused exam	2 per 12 months	2 per 12 months	2 per 12 months	No
Oral evaluation, under 3 years old	1 per 6 months	Not applicable	1 per 6 months	No
Comprehensive oral exam	1 per 36 months	1 per 36 months	1 per 36 months	No
Comprehensive full-mouth X-ray series	1 per 36 months	1 per 36 months	1 per 36 months	No
Periapical images (first and additional)	Covered as clinically needed	Covered as clinically needed	Covered as clinically needed	No
Bitewing radiographs (2 or 4)	1 per 6 months	1 per 12 months	1 per 6 months	No
Panoramic radiograph	1 per 36 months	1 per 36 months	1 per 36 months	No
Routine cleaning (adult / child)	1 per 6 months	1 per 12 months	1 per 6 months	No
Topical fluoride (varnish / gel)	1 per 6 months	Not covered	1 per 6 months	No
Dental sealant (per tooth)	1 per 36 months, permanent molars	Not covered	1 per 36 months, permanent molars	No
Space maintainers (unilateral / bilateral)	1 per lifetime per quadrant or arch	Not covered	1 per lifetime per quadrant or arch	No
Amalgam (silver) fillings	1 per 36 months per tooth surface	1 per 36 months (subject to the annual cap)	1 per 36 months per tooth surface	No
Composite (tooth-colored) fillings	1 per 36 months per tooth surface	1 per 36 months (subject to the annual cap)	1 per 36 months per tooth surface	No
Prefabricated stainless steel crowns	1 per 36 months (primary or permanent)	Not covered	1 per 36 or 60 months	No
Prefabricated resin crown	1 per 36 months	Not covered	1 per 36 months	No
Core buildup / prefabricated post and core	1 per lifetime per tooth	Not covered	1 per lifetime per tooth	No
Pulpotomy (therapeutic)	1 per lifetime per tooth	Not covered	1 per lifetime per tooth	No
Root canal therapy (anterior / molar)	1 per lifetime per tooth	Not covered	1 per lifetime per tooth	No
Complete dentures (upper / lower)	1 per 60 months (5 years)	Not covered on the standard plan	1 per 60 months (5 years)	Yes
Partial dentures, resin base	1 per 60 months (5 years)	Not covered on the standard plan	1 per 60 months (5 years)	Yes
Simple extraction	Covered, no time limits	Covered (subject to the annual cap)	Covered, no time limits	No
Surgical and impacted extractions	Covered, no time limits	Covered (subject to the annual cap)	Covered, no time limits	No
Emergency palliative pain relief	Covered as needed	Covered as needed	Covered as needed	No
IV moderate sedation (15-minute units)	Covered with criteria	Covered (cap exclusion)	Covered with criteria	Setting review / criteria
Diagnostic dental consultation	1 per day	1 per day	1 per day	No
Behavior management (by report)	Covered when documented	Not standard	Covered when documented	No

GOOD TO KNOW

Medicaid questions, answered.

Everything you need to know before your first visit. Have another question?

Call 803-233-8177 →

Do you accept South Carolina Medicaid?

Yes. We participate in South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid, whose dental benefits are administered through DentaQuest. We see children under 21, adults 21 and older, and ID/RD Waiver members, and we are accepting new Medicaid patients.

Is there a yearly limit on adult Medicaid dental benefits?

Yes. The standard Healthy Connections adult dental benefit has a $1,000 annual maximum per member per benefit year, and the benefit year runs 1 July through 30 June rather than the calendar year. Children under 21 and ID/RD Waiver members have no annual maximum.

What does the adult benefit actually cover?

Exams, one cleaning and one set of bitewings per 12 months, fillings, extractions, emergency pain relief, and IV sedation with criteria — all subject to the $1,000 cap. Crowns, root canals, dentures, sealants, and fluoride are not covered on the standard adult plan. The benefit summary on this page lists each line.

Are dentures covered?

For children under 21 and ID/RD Waiver members, complete and partial dentures are covered once every 60 months and require prior authorization, which we submit for you. They are not covered on the standard adult plan.

My card says Absolute Total Care — is that my dental plan?

Not necessarily. The MCO printed on a medical Medicaid card does not automatically administer the dental benefit. South Carolina Medicaid dental runs through DentaQuest. Bring both cards and we will verify the dental side for you.

Is emergency dental care covered?

Yes. Emergency palliative pain relief is covered as needed across all three benefit groups, and extractions are covered with no time limit for children and ID/RD Waiver members (and under the annual cap for adults). If you are in pain, call us.

What should I bring to my first visit?

Your Healthy Connections Medicaid card, your MCO card if one was issued, any DentaQuest dental information or digital ID, and photo ID if we ask for it.

Which services need prior authorization?

Complete and partial dentures require prior authorization. IV moderate sedation is subject to a setting review against clinical criteria. Everything else on the benefit summary is listed as no prior authorization required. We handle any submission on your behalf.