Medicare Advantage Plans South Carolina: 2027 Costs and Rules

Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina residents can buy for 2027 are getting cheaper on average. CMS counts 97 plans, two more than in 2026, and the average monthly premium falls from $9.39 to $3.98. But South Carolina gives people leaving Medicare Advantage few extra Medigap rights beyond federal law, and people under 65 have only one guaranteed Medigap route, at a high price. This guide sets out the 2027 numbers and the South Carolina rules that matter before December 7.

Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina residents can choose in 2027

The CMS South Carolina fact sheet, dated September 28, 2026, says 1,285,904 South Carolinians are enrolled in Medicare. Here are its figures for the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina offers, next to 2026:

A dash means the fact sheet gives no 2026 figure. Figures are from the CMS South Carolina fact sheet dated September 28, 2026, and are shown for illustration only. They are not quotes or offers, and they can change. Confirm current numbers with Medicare.gov or a licensed agent.

Medicare Advantage South Carolina 2027: what the numbers mean

South Carolina’s average premium drops by $5.41 a month, or about 58%. That is a steeper fall than the national picture: the CMS 2027 press release projects the national average to go from $14.37 to $12.00. At $3.98, South Carolina’s average is about a third of the national figure.

Three other points stand out for Medicare Advantage South Carolina 2027 shoppers:

• Drug plans are thin. Only 8 stand-alone Part D plans are offered, the lowest count of any state on the CMS fact sheets, shared with several others. If you use Original Medicare, check your drug plan’s 2027 formulary closely.
• Re-shop Part D. CMS says 46.24% of South Carolinians in a stand-alone drug plan can find one with a lower premium than in 2026.
• A lower premium is not lower total cost. You still pay the Part B premium, plus copays up to each plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

A net gain of two plans statewide can still hide plans leaving your county. Read your fall letter carefully, and check whether your doctors are still in network even if your plan continues. Plans can change networks, drug lists and copays each year, and the Annual Notice of Change is the only place many of those changes are spelled out.

If your South Carolina plan is ending

If you are in one of the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina insurers are not renewing, you should have received a notice this fall. Your plan covers you through December 31, 2026. You can choose another plan during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Medicare.gov also says that when a plan’s contract isn’t renewed, you can switch between December 8 and the last day of February.

You can also return to Original Medicare. The federal rule in the CMS Medigap guide gives you a guaranteed right to buy Medigap Plan A, B, D, G, K or L (C or F if you were eligible before 2020) for 63 days after your plan coverage ends. The South Carolina Department of Insurance’s 2026 Shopper’s Guide repeats this right.

The guide adds that you can apply as early as 60 days before your plan ends, but Medigap coverage cannot begin until your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, so ask for a January 1 start date. Our guide on what to do when a Medicare Advantage plan is not renewing walks through each step and date.

South Carolina Medigap rules if you leave Medicare Advantage

Before you leave any of the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina insurers sell, know which Medigap protections apply. South Carolina generally follows the federal rules. The Department’s Medicare Supplement Insurance 2026 Shopper’s Guide describes these windows:

• Medigap open enrollment. Six months starting when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. You can buy any Medigap policy sold in the state without health questions.
• Trial rights. If you joined Medicare Advantage when first eligible at 65, or dropped Medigap to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, you have a 12-month trial period to switch back with protections.
• Plan leaving or failing its rules. Guaranteed issue applies if your plan leaves Medicare, stops serving your area, or broke its own rules.

The guide describes no state birthday or anniversary rule. Outside these windows, South Carolina insurers can ask health questions and decline you. The guide also warns that it is illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy while you are in Medicare Advantage, unless you are switching back to Original Medicare. Our Medicare supplement underwriting guide explains those health questions.

Medigap under 65 in South Carolina

If you have Medicare because of a disability, Medigap under 65 South Carolina residents can count on comes from one place. The Department’s 2026 guide says the state “currently only has guaranteed issue Medigap policies” for people under 65 through the South Carolina Health Insurance Pool (SCHIP).

State law backs this. Under S.C. Code § 38-74-60(B), the pool must offer Medicare supplement coverage to anyone under 65 covered by Parts A and B for reasons other than age, and § 38-74-30 sets a 30-day residency rule. The pool page lists Plans A, C and D. Monthly rates for all ages, effective January 1, 2026, as published by the SC Department of Insurance:

These rates are shown for illustration only and can change. Confirm them with the SCHIP administrator at 800-868-2500, ext. 46401, or 803-788-0500, ext. 46401, in Columbia.

Hypothetical example (published prices): a 58-year-old in Columbia with Medicare due to a disability compares SCHIP Plan A with one of the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina offers at the 2027 state average. SCHIP Plan A: $1,191.09 x 12 = $14,293.08 a year. Average Medicare Advantage premium: $3.98 x 12 = $47.76 a year. The difference is $14,293.08 − $47.76 = $14,245.32, before Part B, which both routes pay. The Medicare Advantage route adds copays up to its out-of-pocket maximum. At 65, this person gets a new Medigap open enrollment with any plan sold in the state.

How to compare Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina insurers offer

Medicare Advantage South Carolina 2027 Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1, 2027, per CMS. Then:

1. Use Medicare Plan Finder. Enter your ZIP code and drugs, and compare estimated yearly cost.
2. Call your doctors and hospital. Ask about 2027 networks by plan name, not just company name.
3. Check the out-of-pocket maximum and referral rules. HMOs usually need referrals; PPOs cost more out of network.
4. Check your drugs on the 2027 formulary. With only 8 stand-alone drug plans, this matters for the Original Medicare route too.
5. Check timing and income. Our Medicare enrollment calculator maps your windows, and the Medicare IRMAA calculator estimates any income surcharge.

Our Medicare Part C guide explains plan types. If you join a plan and regret it, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 allows one change; see our guide to changing Medicare plans.

South Carolina SHIP Medicare counseling and other free help

The SC Department on Aging runs the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Its program page says counselors compare the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina residents can choose, review Part D plans, explain Medigap, and help with Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs and the low-income subsidy for drugs.

• South Carolina SHIP Medicare counseling: 1-800-868-9095, or (803) 734-9900.
• SC Department of Insurance: 1-800-768-3467, for Medigap questions or complaints.
• Medicare: 1-800-633-4227, 24 hours a day.

With 21.99% of stand-alone drug plan members getting Extra Help, it is worth asking SHIP to screen you. Our Extra Help guide explains the program.

Checklist before you choose for 2027

Use this list with any of the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina insurers sell for 2027:

• Read your Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter.
• Confirm your doctors and hospital are in network for 2027.
• Check your drugs on each plan’s 2027 formulary.
• Compare out-of-pocket maximums, not just premiums.
• If your plan is ending and you want Medigap, apply within 63 days of losing coverage.
• If you are under 65, price Medigap under 65 South Carolina options through SCHIP before you leave Medicare Advantage.
• Book a free South Carolina SHIP Medicare counseling session if you are unsure.
• Keep your enrollment confirmation and new ID card.

Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina: frequently asked questions

How many Medicare Advantage plans are there in South Carolina for 2027?

CMS counts 97, up from 95 in 2026. Your county will have fewer. Medicare Plan Finder lists the plans for your ZIP code.

Can I get a $0-premium plan in South Carolina?

Yes. CMS says 100% of people with Medicare in South Carolina have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan in 2027. You still pay Part B and any copays.

Does South Carolina have a Medigap birthday rule?

The Department of Insurance’s 2026 Shopper’s Guide describes none. Switching Medigap plans outside a protected window can mean health questions.

How does Medigap under 65 South Carolina coverage work?

Guaranteed coverage is available through the South Carolina Health Insurance Pool, which offers Plans A, C and D. Private insurers may sell to people under 65, but they are not required to accept you.

What if I leave my plan and miss the 63-day window?

Insurers can then ask health questions and may decline you. You could still join another Medicare Advantage plan in a valid enrollment period.

Who gives unbiased help?

South Carolina SHIP, through the Department on Aging, at 1-800-868-9095. Counselors don’t sell plans.

Compare your options with a licensed agent

Octans Insurance is an independent agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents work with 120+ carriers and can compare the Medicare Advantage plans South Carolina carriers offer in your county with Medigap options, at no fee to you. Call (617) 935-9220. For free, unbiased counseling, you can also call South Carolina SHIP at 1-800-868-9095 or 1-800-MEDICARE. Planning for family costs too? See our South Carolina life insurance guide, and read how we get paid.

Keep Reading: Related Guides

• Life insurance in South Carolina
• Medicare Part C
• Medicare Advantage plan not renewing
• Medicare enrollment calculator
• Free Medicare help in South Carolina
• Unclaimed life insurance in South Carolina
• South Carolina Medicaid burial rules

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

This article is for general information and is not tax, legal, or medical advice.

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