South Carolina Medicare help
Medicare basics and the South Carolina-specific places to get free, unbiased help.
Medicare Open Enrollment starts October 15th
Take a look at South Carolina plans, or go ahead and enroll yourself. Call if you need any help with your application.
When you can enroll
- Initial Enrollment Period. A seven-month window around your 65th birthday (three months before, the month of, and three months after).
- Annual Enrollment Period. October 15 to December 7 each year, to join, switch or leave a Medicare Advantage or drug plan for the next year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. January 1 to March 31 for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Your county decides the plans you can choose
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are offered by service area, which is usually by county. Two South Carolina neighbors a county apart can have different plans, premiums and networks. Look up your county and then call to compare what is offered where you live.
Medicare plans leaving South Carolina for 2027
29 plans from 7 companies are listed in at least one South Carolina county for 2026 but not for 2027, covering at least 9,651 people enrolled in county-by-county plans. Find your county to see the exact plans.
| Company | Plans leaving | People enrolled (at least) |
|---|---|---|
| BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC) | 7 (1 leave all of South Carolina) | 5,277 |
| Aetna (CVS Health) | 14 (1 leave all of South Carolina) | 3,597 |
| Humana | 2 | 587 |
| Cigna HealthSpring (HCSC) | 3 (2 leave all of South Carolina) | 99 |
| Devoted Health | 1 | 91 |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | not listed |
| UnitedHealthcare | 1 | not listed |
Where the most people are affected
- Lexington County · 1,667
- Charleston County · 1,481
- Beaufort County · 1,306
- Anderson County · 983
- Darlington County · 718
- Florence County · 676
- Orangeburg County · 625
- Cherokee County · 467
- Calhoun County · 282
- Dillon County · 197
A plan can be listed because it was renumbered or replaced, not only because a company is leaving the state. When the same company keeps other plans there, members are usually moved to a replacement plan. Your plan should send you a notice, and Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) is when you can compare and switch. “People enrolled” is the number enrolled in that plan today (CMS hides counts of 10 or fewer). Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2026 and 2027, and CMS enrollment data from September 2026.
Free Medicare counseling in South Carolina
I-CARE (Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders) (800-868-9095) is South Carolina’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its counselors do not sell insurance, and it is a good second opinion on any plan you are considering.
Important disclosure
We do not offer every plan available in your area. We represent a limited number of organizations, which offer a limited number of products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program to get information on all of your options. South Carolina Insurance Plans is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Questions
Do I have to enroll in anything if I call?
No. A call is a conversation about your options. You are never required to enroll.
What if I missed my Initial Enrollment Period?
You may owe a late-enrollment penalty for Part B and Part D, and you may have to wait for a general or annual enrollment period. A licensed agent or your SHIP counselor can look at your specific dates.
Is there help that is not tied to an insurance company in South Carolina?
Yes: I-CARE (Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders) at 800-868-9095.
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.