Charleston, SC
Charleston County
Coastal community with a high share of relocated retirees — network adequacy and out-of-area travel benefits matter more than premium alone here.
◊ South Carolina · SC
Learn more about your Medicare plan options in South Carolina.
In South Carolina we represent both Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans from a wide variety of insurance carriers. We price off South Carolina carrier filings and ZIP-level plan availability rather than national averages — and there is never a charge for the consultation.
South Carolina Medicare at a glance
- 1,180,000
- Medicare beneficiaries statewide (approx.)
- 55%
- Enrolled in Medicare Advantage — about 649,000 people
- 22%
- Of the South Carolina population is on Medicare
Approximate statewide estimates based on publicly reported CMS Medicare enrollment data.
◊ Medigap in SC
South Carolina Medicare Supplement plans.
Roughly 45% of South Carolina beneficiaries stay on Original Medicare, and most of them pair it with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. While well-known carriers such as BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina have Medigap options here, several other A-rated carriers offer competitive prices. Because Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter, identical coverage from a lesser-known carrier can save hundreds of dollars a year — and when you are living on a fixed income, every dollar counts.
Keep in mind that every health insurance company is subject to annual rate increases. Your South Carolina Medigap plan will see premium adjustments over time, which is why we review your policy each year at renewal and re-shop the market for you at no cost.
Medigap plans available in South Carolina
South Carolina offers all of the standardized Medigap plans available in nearly every other state: Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N, plus high-deductible options. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are not available to you — but do not worry about missing Plan F. Plan G is usually the more cost-effective option anyway, and Plan N is worth a look if you are comfortable with small copays at the doctor's office.
| Plan | Part A deductible | Part B deductible | Part B excess | Best fit in SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan G | Covered | You pay | Covered | Most popular — full coverage after one deductible |
| High-Deductible G | After deductible | You pay | After deductible | Lowest premium, highest out-of-pocket ceiling |
| Plan N | Covered | You pay | Not covered | Lower premium with small office/ER copays |
| Plan F | Covered | Covered | Covered | Only if Medicare-eligible before 2020 |
| Plan K / L | Partial | You pay | Not covered | Cost-sharing plans with an annual out-of-pocket limit |
◊ Medicare Advantage in SC
South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans.
For South Carolina residents interested in Medicare Advantage, there are many plan options. HMO plans generally carry the lowest premiums — many at $0 per month — but there are reasonably priced PPO options as well for people who want out-of-network flexibility. More than 649,000 Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Advantage plans across the state, about 55% of everyone on Medicare in South Carolina.
Most South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. For people choosing Medigap instead, standalone Part D drug plans are available statewide. The right answer is rarely about premium — it is about whether your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are inside the plan's South Carolina network and formulary.
Carriers writing Medicare business in South Carolina
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
- Humana
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare
Carrier availability varies by county and ZIP code. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
◊ South Carolina ZIP coverage
6 markets. Each a different plan menu.
Medicare Advantage networks and Part D formularies are built county by county, and Medigap rates are set by ZIP code. A retiree in 29401 Charleston is shopping a genuinely different list than a retiree in 29201 Columbia. Here is how the South Carolina market breaks down.
Columbia, SC
Richland County
State capital and government-retiree hub, where employer and TRS retiree coverage often coordinates with Medicare Parts A and B.
Greenville, SC
Greenville County
Dense urban market with the widest carrier network access in the state — expect the largest slate of Medicare Advantage plans and the most competitive Medigap rating.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Horry County
Retirement-heavy ZIP with one of the highest Medicare-eligible concentrations in the state and a correspondingly deep plan menu.
Rock Hill, SC
York County
Established suburban market with strong hospital coverage and competitive Advantage premiums, many at $0 per month.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Beaufort County
Retirement-heavy ZIP with one of the highest Medicare-eligible concentrations in the state and a correspondingly deep plan menu.
◊ South Carolina Medicare FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need a Part D plan in South Carolina?
If you pair Original Medicare with a South Carolina Medicare Supplement plan, yes — Medigap does not include prescription coverage, so you add a standalone Part D plan. Most South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans already bundle Part D, so a separate plan is usually unnecessary and can actually disenroll you from your Advantage plan.
Which Medigap plans are available in South Carolina?
South Carolina offers the full set of standardized Medigap plans — A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N, plus high-deductible F and G. Plans C and F are only available to people who became eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. For everyone newly eligible, Plan G and Plan N are the two most commonly purchased options.
How much do Medicare Supplement plans cost in South Carolina?
Medigap premiums in South Carolina vary by carrier, age, gender, tobacco use, and ZIP code — two people in different parts of the state can pay meaningfully different rates for identical coverage. Because Medigap benefits are standardized by letter, the smartest move is to compare every A-rated carrier writing in your ZIP rather than defaulting to the best-known brand.
When can I enroll in a Medigap plan in South Carolina without health questions?
Your one-time, six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period begins the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During that window, South Carolina carriers cannot decline you or rate you up for health history. Outside it, you generally have to answer medical underwriting questions unless a guaranteed-issue right applies.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in South Carolina?
You can drop a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period (October 15 – December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31), then apply for a Medigap plan. Keep in mind you may be subject to underwriting in South Carolina if you are outside your Medigap Open Enrollment window.
Need help exploring South Carolina Medicare plan options?
Meet one-on-one with a licensed advisor to compare South Carolina Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Part D plans side by side. Meet by phone or in person. There is no charge for this service.
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South Carolina Medicare plan information reviewed for 2026. Enrollment and penetration figures are approximate statewide estimates from publicly reported CMS Medicare enrollment data.