Health insurance help for South Carolina residents
Compare Medicare, health insurance marketplace plans and Medicaid in South Carolina, with a guide for every county and each major city, reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed agent (NPN 21255551)
- No cost to call
- No obligation to enroll
What is different about coverage in South Carolina
Healthy Connections, South Carolina's Medicaid program, is run by the Department of Health and Human Services, and South Carolina residents use the federal HealthCare.gov Marketplace for ACA shopping. South Carolina Insurance Plans is free to use for South Carolina callers working through Medicare, ACA, life, or supplemental coverage questions.
- Healthy Connections, administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), has a member contact center at (888) 549-0820 -- that's the right place to start if your South Carolina Medicaid eligibility changed.
- South Carolina does not run its own ACA exchange, so South Carolina marketplace shopping and subsidy questions go through the federal HealthCare.gov Marketplace.
- South Carolina's free Medicare counseling program goes by the name I-CARE (Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders) at 800-868-9095, run through the state's Office on Aging and separate from South Carolina Insurance Plans's own free phone help.
Worth knowing: South Carolina's Medicare counseling program uses a distinctive name, I-CARE, rather than a generic SHIP label, and is run through the state's Office on Aging rather than the Department of Insurance -- worth knowing since some other states run this exact function directly out of their insurance regulator instead.
Coverage questions we help South Carolina residents with
Health plans (ACA marketplace)
How South Carolina’s marketplace works, who qualifies for help with costs, and when you can enroll.
Medicare
Turning 65, Medicare Advantage, Medigap and drug plans, with South Carolina’s free counseling program.
Medicaid
Where to apply in South Carolina, and what to do when your coverage changes.
South Carolina by county
Medicare Advantage plans and marketplace premiums are set county by county, so the plans open to you depend on where in South Carolina you live. Start with your county.
Major South Carolina cities
South Carolina colleges and universities
- University of South Carolina
- Clemson University
- Medical University of South Carolina
- College of Charleston
- Winthrop University
- Coastal Carolina University
State bird: Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus. South Carolina’s official state bird, shown here as a local touch.
Photo: Rhododendrites (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia CommonsCommon South Carolina questions
Where do I shop for ACA health plans in South Carolina?
South Carolina residents shop through HealthCare.gov (federal Marketplace) (https://www.healthcare.gov/south-carolina/). An independent agent such as Lander LLC can explain the plans for you, but the marketplace is the only place premium tax credits are applied.
How do I apply for Medicaid in South Carolina?
Medicaid in South Carolina is run through Healthy Connections (SC Department of Health and Human Services) (https://www.scdhhs.gov). Eligibility depends on income, household size and other factors, and it is decided by the state, not by an insurance agency.
Who regulates insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina Department of Insurance (https://doi.sc.gov) regulates insurance companies and agents in South Carolina. You can use it to check that an agent or company is licensed and to file a complaint.
Is there free, unbiased Medicare help in South Carolina?
Yes. I-CARE (Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders) (800-868-9095) offers free Medicare counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), separate from any insurance agency.
Does South Carolina Insurance Plans cost anything to use?
There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent. Insurance premiums and plan costs are set by the insurance companies and are separate from our help.
Talk with a licensed agent about South Carolina coverage
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.