South Carolina Medicare 2026
Medicare in South Carolina serves about 1.2 million beneficiaries, with 48% enrolled in Medicare Advantage and the remainder on Original Medicare + Medigap. Average Medigap Plan G premium for a new 65-year-old enrollee: $133/mo. Stand-alone Part D plans average $43/mo.
Medicare Beneficiaries
1.2 million
Age 65+ and disabled
MA Enrollment
48%
% on Medicare Advantage
Avg Medigap Plan G
$133/mo
New enrollee, age 65
South Carolina Medicare Quick Facts (2026)
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans available (2026) | 95 plans | Statewide total — fewer available in your county (CMS) |
| Average MA premium (2026) | $10.16/mo | was $13.70/mo in 2025 (CMS) |
| $0-premium MA plans | Available | 100% of beneficiaries have $0-plan access (CMS) |
| Stand-alone Part D plans (2026) | 11 plans, lowest $4.80/mo | Adds drug coverage to Original Medicare (CMS) |
| Top MA carriers | UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield SC | Networks differ by county |
| Annual guaranteed-issue Medigap switching | No (one-time 6-month window at 65) | No state annual GI rights; Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Greenville attract major retiree in-migration from the Northeast. |
MA plan counts, average premiums, and $0-premium availability are CMS 2026 figures (state fact sheet); Medigap and top-carrier details are editorial estimates. The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90/month, Part B deductible $283, Part D out-of-pocket cap $2,100. Verify plans at medicare.gov.
South Carolina Medicare: Retiree Migration Boom and Coastal Market Growth
South Carolina has become one of the fastest-growing retirement destinations in the Southeast, with in-migration from the Northeast, Midwest, and California driving rapid Medicare enrollment growth — particularly in coastal communities like Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Myrtle Beach, and the Charleston metro area. MUSC Health (Medical University of South Carolina) is the state's leading academic medical center, anchoring the Charleston MA network alongside Roper St. Francis. Prisma Health and Bon Secours are the major systems in the Upstate (Greenville, Spartanburg). Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina (known for BlueCare Plus) has a significant MA presence statewide, competing with UnitedHealthcare and Humana.
Medigap Plan G averages about $133/month in South Carolina — very affordable given the state's growing healthcare market and the influx of generally healthy early retirees. However, retirees moving from states with birthday rules (California, Oregon, Idaho) lose those protections upon establishing South Carolina residency and are subject to the standard federal one-time 6-month open enrollment window. Rural parts of South Carolina — particularly the Pee Dee region and the Corridor of Shame along I-95 — have limited provider availability and MA network challenges. South Carolina has no state-level annual Medigap switching protections.
What to Know About Medicare in South Carolina
Original Medicare + Medigap path
In South Carolina, traditional Medicare combined with a Medigap supplement (typically Plan G or N) plus a stand-alone Part D plan provides nationwide access with predictable costs. Plan G covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage path
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and usually D into one private plan, often with $0 premium beyond Part B. Trade-offs include network restrictions and prior authorization. 48% of South Carolina beneficiaries currently choose MA.
Medigap switching rights in your state
No state annual GI rights; Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Greenville attract major retiree in-migration from the Northeast.
South Carolina Pro Tip
Medicare FAQs — South Carolina
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in South Carolina?
+
South Carolina beneficiaries in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville typically have access to 50 or more Medicare Advantage plans. Coastal resort markets like Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach generally offer 25 to 40 options. Rural Pee Dee and northeastern SC counties may have 15 to 25 plans available.
What is the average Medigap Plan G premium in South Carolina?
+
The average Medigap Plan G premium for a 65-year-old in South Carolina is approximately $133 per month — quite affordable relative to the state's growing healthcare market. BCBS SC, Cigna, and Mutual of Omaha are among the major Plan G carriers in the state.
Can I switch Medigap plans in South Carolina without medical underwriting?
+
South Carolina does not have a birthday rule or annual guaranteed-issue protections for Medigap. Outside your initial 6-month open enrollment at 65 or qualifying federal events, insurers can use medical underwriting. Retirees relocating from California, Oregon, or Idaho should be aware that they lose those states' birthday rule protections when they move to South Carolina.
Related Guides
Medicare Advantage plan counts, average premiums, and $0-premium availability are from CMS — 2026 Medicare Advantage & Part D State-by-State Fact Sheet (August 2026), cross-checked against KFF. Medigap Plan G and Part D averages are editorial estimates. See the full South Carolina Medicare plan landscape at /tools/medicare-plan-landscape/south-carolina. Verify current plan costs at medicare.gov before enrolling.
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed August 2026
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