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28 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in South Carolina were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan in 2019.1
There are 530 different South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans in 2019.1 Not every plan is available in each South Carolina county.
A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the availability, benefits and costs of Medicare Advantage plans in your area of South Carolina. Read below to learn more about Medicare in your state.
You may be able to find other additional types of Medicare Health insurance plans in South Carolina:
The average 2019 Medicare Advantage plan premiums in South Carolina were among the lowest in the nation, at $1 per month.
That average was affected by the 298 available plans that feature $0 monthly premiums.
The plan premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for plans may vary greatly based on where you live and the plan you have.
The 2019 average South Carolina Medicare Advantage plan premiums by county are listed below in this guide.
Learn more about your Medicare Advantage plan options and compare costs for plans that are available in your area.
Compare South Carolina Medicare Advantage plan costs
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
In order to enroll in a South Carolina Medicare Advantage plan, you must sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B, often referred to as Original Medicare.
In order to be eligible for Original Medicare at age 65, you must meet the following requirements:
You may also be eligible for Medicare benefits before you reach age 65 if:
If you have ESRD, you may not qualify for most Medicare Advantage plans, but you may be able to enroll in a South Carolina Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) that is specifically designed to help meet your health care needs.
The first time you may be able to sign up for a South Carolina Medicare Part C plan is during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
Each Medicare beneficiary is given a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period when they first become eligible for Medicare.
Your IEP begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month of your birthday and continues for three more months after your birth month.
Your IEP is your first opportunity to sign up for Medicare coverage, including a Medicare Advantage plan.
If you do not enroll during your IEP, you will have to wait for one of the following:
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31
If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan or disenroll from your plan and return to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
This period lasts from January 1 to March 31 each year.
If you return to Original Medicare during this period, you'll be able to join a Medicare standalone prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D).
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7
From October 15 to December 7 every year, you can typically enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
You may also drop your current Medicare Advantage plan and return to Medicare Part A and/or Part B.
During AEP, you may also join, switch or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Depending on your situation, you could potentially be granted a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You may qualify for a Medicare SEP at any time throughout the year if you have a qualifying circumstance.
A licensed insurance agent can help you find out if you qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period.
Find a South Carolina Medicare Advantage plan
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues star ratings every year for all Medicare Advantage plans using a system of one to five stars.2
If a Medicare Advantage plan earns four or more stars out of five stars, it can be designated as a top-rated Medicare Advantage plan.
There are 222 top-rated 2019 Medicare Advantage plans in South Carolina that are rated four stars or higher.
Star Ratings | |
---|---|
★★★★★ |
Excellent |
★★★★ |
Above Average |
★★★ |
Average |
★★ |
Below Average |
★ |
Poor |
Medicare Advantage plans are rated based on the five categories listed below:
The information for the star ratings is gathered from information that is submitted to Medicare, Medicare’s regular monitoring activities and member surveys.
You can use our plan comparison tool to view a list of plans offered in your area within South Carolina.
Find a South Carolina Medicare Advantage plan
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
There may be multiple insurance carriers who offer Medicare Advantage plans in South Carolina, depending on the area you live in.
Private insurance companies and the Medicare Advantage plans that they offer may be unique to the program area that they service.
Call to speak with a licensed insurance agent to learn more about Medicare Advantage plans and to compare the options that may be available from carriers in your area of South Carolina.
When shopping for a Medicare Advantage plan in South Carolina, some of the following information might be helpful sources of more information about available plans and the carriers that provide them:
You can use the chart below to learn more about 2019 South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans in each county.1
County | Total of County MA Enrollees | % of Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled in MA | Number of Plans Available | Number of $0 Premium Plans Available | % Enrolled in a $0 Premium Plan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbeville | 2364 | 36% | 14 | 8 | 97.9% |
Aiken | 10504 | 26% | 11 | 5 | 45.5% |
Allendale | 915 | 42% | 7 | 4 | 94.2% |
Anderson | 16770 | 36% | 11 | 6 | 92.4% |
Bamberg | 1258 | 35% | 6 | 2 | 95.2% |
Barnwell | 1479 | 31% | 7 | 4 | 93.3% |
Beaufort | 11065 | 20% | 16 | 9 | 95.0% |
Berkeley | 9594 | 25% | 17 | 10 | 97.2% |
Calhoun | 1289 | 33% | 9 | 3 | 89.1% |
Charleston | 17387 | 22% | 22 | 13 | 99.0% |
Cherokee | 5047 | 39% | 16 | 10 | 98.4% |
Chester | 2471 | 31% | 13 | 8 | 91.5% |
Chesterfield | 2531 | 25% | 5 | 3 | 97.1% |
Clarendon | 2801 | 30% | 6 | 3 | 96.4% |
Colleton | 3240 | 31% | 17 | 10 | 94.9% |
Darlington | 3500 | 22% | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
Dillon | 1958 | 29% | 5 | 3 | 97.2% |
Dorchester | 6874 | 23% | 16 | 9 | 56.3% |
Edgefield | 1735 | 29% | 10 | 5 | 84.4% |
Fairfield | 1991 | 34% | 12 | 5 | 91.4% |
Florence | 6275 | 20% | 5 | 2 | 98.7% |
Georgetown | 5416 | 26% | 13 | 7 | 96.9% |
Greenville | 35262 | 35% | 25 | 16 | 99.6% |
Greenwood | 4894 | 30% | 8 | 5 | 99.6% |
Hampton | 1433 | 31% | 11 | 6 | 94.0% |
Horry | 23486 | 23% | 11 | 6 | 54.5% |
Jasper | 2018 | 31% | 14 | 8 | 89.7% |
Kershaw | 3713 | 24% | 7 | 2 | 94.8% |
Lancaster | 5313 | 23% | 11 | 6 | 54.5% |
Laurens | 5956 | 35% | 12 | 8 | 96.7% |
Lee | 1318 | 30% | 8 | 3 | 91.8% |
Lexington | 13240 | 23% | 10 | 6 | 60.0% |
Marion | 2087 | 26% | 4 | 2 | 98.2% |
Marlboro | 1986 | 30% | 5 | 3 | 95.7% |
McCormick | 1395 | 35% | 11 | 7 | 98.1% |
Newberry | 2753 | 29% | 13 | 9 | 98.6% |
Oconee | 6631 | 29% | 10 | 5 | 50.0% |
Orangeburg | 7849 | 37% | 10 | 4 | 98.5% |
Pickens | 10037 | 37% | 17 | 12 | 98.7% |
Richland | 16684 | 24% | 20 | 12 | 95.9% |
Saluda | 1365 | 29% | 15 | 9 | 95.5% |
Spartanburg | 26898 | 40% | 23 | 15 | 99.6% |
Sumter | 5282 | 23% | 6 | 2 | 33.3% |
Union | 3167 | 41% | 18 | 12 | 99.1% |
Williamsburg | 3131 | 37% | 6 | 3 | 98.4% |
York | 13881 | 28% | 14 | 7 | 50.0% |
Here’s how 2019 Medicare Advantage enrollment in South Carolina is broken down by plan type.1
Plan type | Percentage of South Carolina enrollees (2019) |
---|---|
HMO | 96.9% |
Local PPO | 1.8% |
Regional PPO | 1.2% |
PPFS | <1% |
The primary types of Medicare Advantage plans include:
Not all of these types of plans may be available in your area. A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the types of 2019 South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans that are available where you live.
1 MedicareAdvantage.com's The Best States for Medicare in 2021 report. (Oct. 27, 2020).
2 Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5- star rating system.
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