South Carolina
Medicare help in South Carolina
Free, unbiased counseling, help paying premiums and drug costs, how to check an agent before you talk to one, and the South Carolina rules that affect your Medigap choices.
Free counseling
SHIP
South Carolina State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is South Carolina's State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Trained counselors answer Medicare questions, compare plans with you and help you apply for savings programs, at no cost. They don't sell insurance.
Help paying for Medicare in South Carolina
If your income and savings are limited, these programs can lower your premiums and drug costs. Many people who qualify never apply.
Medicare Savings Programs
Healthy Connections Medicaid runs South Carolina's Medicare Savings Programs. They pay your Part B premium, and the fullest one (QMB) also pays Part A premiums, deductibles and copays. You don't need to qualify for full Medicaid.
The 2026 federal minimum limits: income up to $1,350 a month single or $1,824 married for full help (QMB), or up to $1,816 single or $2,455 married for help with the Part B premium, and savings up to $9,950 single or $14,910 married. Your home and one car don't count. States can be more generous.
South Carolina uses the federal income limits.
Extra Help with drug costs
Extra Help is a federal program, run by Social Security, that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. In 2026 you may qualify with income up to $23,940 a year single or $32,460 married, and resources up to $18,090 single or $36,100 married. If you get a Medicare Savings Program, Medicaid or SSI, you get Extra Help automatically. Apply with Social Security.
South Carolina drug assistance program
Medicare.gov lists no general state drug assistance program for people with Medicare in South Carolina. Start with Extra Help; South Carolina's free SHIP counselors can help you apply.
Sources: Medicaid.gov state contacts, South Carolina's own Medicaid pages and Medicare.gov's state program list, checked October 27, 2026. Limits change every year; confirm with Healthy Connections Medicaid before you apply. How Extra Help and savings programs work.
Check an agent's license in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Insurance licenses insurance agents in South Carolina. Before you share personal information, look the agent up by name or National Producer Number (NPN) and make sure their license is active and includes health insurance.
Medigap rules in South Carolina
Switching plans later
South Carolina has no yearly switching window. After your first 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, insurers can ask health questions before selling you a different policy, unless you have a federal guaranteed issue right. How switching works.
If you're under 65
Insurers in South Carolina must offer Medigap to people under 65 who have Medicare. Plans and prices can be limited. More on Medigap under 65.
Source: NAIC state Medigap chart, May 11, 2026. Confirm with the South Carolina Department of Insurance before changing coverage.
Dates that apply everywhere
- October 15 to December 7: Open Enrollment, when you can change Medicare Advantage and drug plans. All enrollment periods
- January 1 to March 31: people in Medicare Advantage can switch plans or go back to Original Medicare once.
- Around your 65th birthday: your 7-month window to sign up. Turning 65
Common questions in South Carolina
Where can I get free Medicare help in South Carolina?
South Carolina State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is South Carolina's State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Its counselors help with Medicare questions for free and don't sell insurance. Call 1-800-868-9095.
How do I check a Medicare agent's license in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Department of Insurance licenses insurance agents. Use its license lookup to search by the agent's name or National Producer Number (NPN), or call 1-800-768-3467.
How do I get help paying Medicare premiums in South Carolina?
Apply for a Medicare Savings Program through Healthy Connections Medicaid (1-888-549-0820). These programs pay your Part B premium, and sometimes your deductibles and copays. South Carolina uses the federal income limits. South Carolina's free SHIP counselors (1-800-868-9095) can help you apply.
Does South Carolina help pay for prescriptions?
Medicare.gov lists no general state drug assistance program for people with Medicare in South Carolina. Extra Help, a federal program run by Social Security, lowers Part D premiums and copays for people with limited income, and South Carolina's free SHIP counselors (1-800-868-9095) can check whether you qualify.
Does South Carolina have a Medigap birthday rule?
Not as of the NAIC's May 11, 2026 chart. Outside your first 6-month Medigap window and federal guaranteed issue rights, insurers in South Carolina can ask health questions before selling you a different policy.
Can I buy Medigap under 65 in South Carolina?
Insurers in South Carolina must offer Medigap to people under 65 who have Medicare. Plans and prices can be limited.
State contacts checked against official South Carolina sites on October 26, 2026. General information, not advice about a specific plan. How we check facts.