2025 Guide to Medicare Advantage Plans in South Carolina
We partner with HealthCompare for some plans. Compensation does not influence our content. Learn more.
Find Plans in your area with your ZIP Code
Uncovering the Top Medicare Advantage Plans in South Carolina
Are you considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan in South Carolina? You're in good company. This year, more than 31 million people enrolled in a private Medicare health plan. Some want lower costs. Some are looking for more benefits. Others need access to more healthcare providers and doctors.
On this webpage, we aim to assist you in uncovering the highest-rated Medicare Advantage (MA) plans available in South Carolina, identifying the insurance providers that offer these plans, and providing guidance on locating suitable plans within your specific County. This is important because not all plans are available in all areas.
Table of Contents
Unveiling the Standout Medicare Advantage Plans in South Carolina
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), reviews and rates South Carolina's Medicare Advantage plans based on a 5-star scale. The information used to create a plan's star rating comes from member input and data reported by the plan.
There are no 5-star plans in South Carolina in 2025. However, there are 4.5-star plans. This year, the highest rated Medicare plans available in South Carolina come from:
MedicareWire recommends evaluating plans from these South Carolina health insurance companies first. Why? Because more stars mean a better plan. For instance, members may get better care, customer service, and phone support from a 5-star plan than from a 4-star one.
IMPORTANT: Depending on where you live in South Carolina, Medicare Advantage plans may have many valuable benefits (as compared to Original Medicare). But, before you choose, it's crucial that you understand the potential disadvantage of Medicare Advantage plans. Compare coverage and costs carefully.
Complete List of South Carolina's Plan Providers
South Carolina has 9 providers that offer Medicare Advantage plans. They include:
- Aetna Medicare
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
- Cigna Healthcare
- Clover Health
- Devoted Health
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
- UnitedHealthcare®
- Wellcare
Top South Carolina Plans by CMS 5-Star Score
Here's a list of the best Medicare Advantage plans available in South Carolina, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:
Top Medicare Advantage Plans in South Carolina
| Provider | Plan ID | Plan Name | Premium | Limit | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Interested in joining a plan from one of the top-rated providers? That has a lot to do with your South Carolina County. Medicare Advantage plans are regional, and you can't join a plan that isn't in your area.
Top-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans in South Carolina by County
Choose your South Carolina County below to see the best (and the worst) plans.
Navigating Your Options: How to Select the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in South Carolina
There are various reasons you might be considering a plan change, such as turning 65 or the Annual Enrollment Period. You might also be navigating a special enrollment event, such as moving into a new region. There are some important details to consider in all these situations.
1. Examine Your Projected Utilization Needs
Do you believe that you will get the most out of your plan's benefits, including hospital inpatient care? If you do, evaluate plans with higher monthly premiums, low copayments, and low maximum out-of-pocket limits. Conversely, if your health is good and you rarely use services, look for plans with low premiums or a zero-dollar premium. These plans may have high out-of-pocket maximums and high deductibles, so weigh your risk carefully.
2. Evaluate Your Prescription Costs
For many seniors, prescription drugs are what drive up their healthcare costs the most. And, because nearly all South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans include Part D benefits for your regular prescriptions, you need to make sure the plan you choose covers your drugs at a price you can afford.
3. Assess Your Need for Supplemental Coverage
Original Medicare does not all health care costs. It covers your major medical and some preventive care services, but it does not cover dental, vision, hearing, or prescriptions. A growing number of Medicare Advantage plans cover many of the essential services that your Part A and Part B benefits do not.
4. Consider Your Healthcare Providers
Medicare Advantage plans use healthcare provider networks, and not all primary care doctors and specialists accept all plans. For many South Carolina shoppers, finding a plan that their doctors accept is exhausting. We can help!
Find Plans in your area with your ZIP Code
Next Steps
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? These common questions and answers might help.
What is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans can have some potential drawbacks. Many plans require members to use their provider network. Costs are also heavily influenced by how you use healthcare services. This makes it difficult to budget for healthcare expenses. Most plans require members to get referrals for specialists or authorization before they can receive healthcare services. Learn more about the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans.
How much does Medicare Advantage cost in South Carolina?
The average cost of a Medicare Advantage plan in South Carolina is $nan. But that's just the monthly premium. If you have one or more chronic health conditions, a plan's out-of-pocket costs (e.g. deductibles and copays) are also a factor to consider. Plus, most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug benefits, which have their own out-of-pocket costs.
What do Medicare Advantage plans include?
All Medicare Advantage plans offered in South Carolina must cover all of the Original Medicare benefits. But, private Medicare plans are not required to provide healthcare services similarly. For instance, Medicare Part A covers 80% of hospital stays, skilled nursing, home care, hospice care, and home health care. And Part B covers 80% of doctor visits, lab tests, and other outpatient services. However, Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to set their own copays and routinely charge more than 20%. That said, they do have an annual limit, whereas Original Medicare doesn't.
Citations & References
- CMS.gov, 2023 Medicare Part C Landscape Source Files, Last Accessed January 13, 2023
- CMS.gov, "5-STAR PLAN RATINGS", Last Accessed October 22, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "Explore your Medicare coverage options", Last Accessed October 27, 2022
- KFF.org, "Medicare Advantage 2023 Spotlight: First Look", Last Accessed September 5, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?", Last Accessed October 13, 2022
- CMS.gov, Part C and D Performance Data, Last Accessed October 13, 2024
- CMS.gov, Monthly MA Enrollment by State/County/Contract, Last Accessed October 10, 2024
For details on how we research, analyze, and construct plan information for South Carolina using CMS data, see our Medicare Plan Research Methodology.