Medicare Advantage Plans in South Carolina (2026 Guide)

South Carolina offers Medicare Advantage plan options for 2026, with many beneficiaries having access to $0 monthly premium plans. These Part C plans provide an alternative to Original Medicare by bundling hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B) with additional coverages like prescription drug (Part D) coverage into a single plan.

What is a Medicare Advantage plan in South Carolina?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a private insurance alternative to traditional Original Medicare. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you do not leave the Medicare program; instead, you choose to receive your federal benefits—both hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B)—directly through a Medicare-approved private insurance company.

By law, every Medicare Advantage plan in South Carolina must offer the exact same coverage as Original Medicare. However, private plans may offer additional routine benefits not covered by Original Medicare.

HMO vs. PPO Plans in South Carolina

The majority of South Carolina beneficiaries choose between two main network structures to access their benefits. Understanding the functional differences between these plan types helps ensure your preferred doctors remain accessible:

• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO): HMO plans are structured around cost-efficiency. They typically feature lower monthly premiums and predictable copays. In exchange for these savings, you must see doctors, specialists, and hospitals within a specific local network. If you receive care from an out-of-network provider, you will likely have to pay the entire bill yourself. Additionally, HMO plans require you to pick a Primary Care Physician (PCP) who will coordinate your healthcare and issue referrals if you need to see a specialist.

• Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO): PPO plans prioritize coverage flexibility. With a PPO, you do not need to choose a primary care doctor, and you never need a referral to schedule a visit with a specialist. You have the freedom to see any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare. While staying within your plan’s preferred network gives you the lowest out-of-pocket costs, you can choose to see out-of-network doctors across South Carolina at any time—you will just pay a slightly higher coinsurance or copay fee for that visit.

Popular Medicare Advantage Plan Carriers in South Carolina

Source: CMS Part C and D Performance Data  

CMS Star Ratings are evaluated annually by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Ratings and plan availability can vary significantly by South Carolina county.

Plan Availability by Top South Carolina Counties

Medicare Advantage plan availability changes depending on where you live. Private insurance companies build their plans around local hospital networks and county borders. This means the specific plans, monthly costs, doctor networks, and additional benefits available to you depend entirely on your ZIP code.

Your options and plan features can vary drastically depending on your county:

• Greenville County: As one of the most populated regions in the Upstate, Greenville County beneficiaries have access to a competitive selection of plans. Local residents can choose from multiple national and regional insurers, resulting in numerous $0 premium options, extensive local doctor networks, and supplemental benefits like wellness program stipends.

• Richland County (Columbia): In the Midlands region, the presence of major medical complexes around Columbia creates a unique healthcare network layout. Plans in Richland County are specifically optimized to include major local health systems and university medical groups, with competitive dental and vision packages bundled into the local plan options.

• Charleston County: In the Lowcountry, plan designs change to fit the coastal healthcare networks. Insurers structure their options around prominent regional hospital networks, offering a strong mix of both HMO and PPO plans tailored to local specialty care facilities.

Disclaimer: Medicare Advantage plan availability, premiums, and provider networks in South Carolina vary by county and ZIP code. County-level descriptions are based on general Medicare market trends, population distribution, and typical rural vs. urban plan availability patterns. Actual plan options and benefits are determined by each insurance carrier and may change annually. 

2026-2027 South Carolina Medicare Enrollment Periods

South Carolina beneficiaries should be aware of key Medicare enrollment windows that occur throughout the year.

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) | Your Seven-Month Window: This timeline begins when you first become eligible for Medicare around your 65th birthday. It spans seven months: the three months before your birth month, your birth month, and the three months immediately after. This is your first opportunity to sign up for Original Medicare and select a Medicare Advantage plan.

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | October 15 to December 7: This yearly window allows any Medicare beneficiary to switch plans, move from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or return to the traditional public program. Any plan selections you make during AEP go into effect on January 1 of the following year.

• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) | January 1 to March 31: This window is open only to individuals already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan as of January 1. During this time, you are allowed to make a one-time change to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop your private plan to return to Original Medicare.

• Special Enrollment Period (SEP) | Occurs Upon Qualifying Life Events: An SEP allows you to change your coverage outside standard timelines without facing financial penalties. Common local triggers in South Carolina include:

  • Permanently moving to a new address outside your current plan's county service area (such as relocating from Richland County to Charleston County).

  • Involuntarily losing existing health or prescription drug protections, such as retiring and leaving an employer-sponsored group health plan or union coverage

Compare Medicare Supplement Plans in South Carolina

Medicare Advantage plans aren’t the right fit for everyone. South Carolina residents may choose to stay on Original Medicare because it gives them the freedom to see any doctor or specialist nationwide who accepts Medicare, without network rules or referral mandates. Because Original Medicare only covers about 80% of Part B costs, beneficiaries may purchase a standalone Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan alongside Original Medicare to help cover the remaining 20%.

Note: You cannot be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medigap plan at the same time. Learn more about .

Why choose SelectQuote for your South Carolina Medicare plan?

For over 40 years, SelectQuote has helped millions of families find the right coverage for their needs. Our licensed insurance agents act as your independent advocate, providing unbiased plan comparisons that take your local networks, pharmacies, and personal budget into consideration.

We focus on clear, honest guidance, and our national reputation reflects that commitment:

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating: SelectQuote proudly holds full accreditation and the highest possible A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, showing our long-standing dedication to strong customer service and consumer trust.

• Highly Rated on Trustpilot: Backed by more than 17,000 verified customer reviews, SelectQuote holds an Excellent rating on Trustpilot. Our users frequently share that our agents are patient, kind, and informative, making a confusing process feel completely straightforward.

• Local Knowledge for South Carolinians: We know that a health plan built for the busy medical centers in Columbia or Charleston might not match your needs if you live in the Upstate. Our team is specifically trained to understand how plan networks change from county to county across the Palmetto State, ensuring your coverage includes the specific doctors and hospitals right in your neighborhood.