South Carolina residents pay $621 monthly with Ambetter for the cheapest health insurance, $41 less than average. First Choice Next runs $649 monthly. That's $13 less than average. Molina Healthcare charges $658 and saves you $4 per month.
Cheapest Health Insurance in South Carolina: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: January 2, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Ambetter, First Choice Next and Molina Healthcare have the cheapest health insurance in South Carolina, with average monthly rates ranging from $621 to $658.
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers the most affordable health insurance in South Carolina across all demographics and all plan types ($572 monthly for adults). Coverage for children averages $342 monthly, teens $408, young adults $458, adults $572 and seniors $1,214. Blue Cross Blue Shield leads for POS ($572), HMO ($576), EPO ($660), PPO ($743) and HSA-eligible plans ($754).
Cheapest Health Insurance Providers in South Carolina
| Ambetter | $621 | $41 | $7,452 | $492 |
| First Choice Next | $649 | $13 | $7,788 | $156 |
| Molina Healthcare | $658 | $4 | $7,896 | $48 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $658 | $4 | $7,896 | $48 |
| Instil Health | $673 | $11 | $8,076 | $132 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $718 | $56 | $8,616 | $672 |
*Average monthly costs represent the mean of all plan rates for each provider in South Carolina, rounded to the nearest dollar. Monthly savings show the cost difference between each provider's average rate and the statewide benchmark.
Ambetter
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
3.3/5Deductible
5/5MOOP
Avg. Monthly Rate
$621Avg. MOOP
$6807Avg. Deductible
$4205
Most Affordable South Carolina Health Insurance By Category
Start with knowing how your age, plan type and metal tier change your premium. Weigh monthly costs against deductibles and out-of-pocket caps while choosing the best health insurance in South Carolina.
Blue Cross Blue Shield wins across all age groups with the lowest premiums, but those savings come at a cost: you'll pay a $3,121 deductible before insurance covers anything and face a $6,341 out-of-pocket maximum annually, making every doctor visit expensive until you hit that limit.
| Children | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $342 | $4,106 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
| Teens | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $408 | $4,900 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
| Young Adults | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $458 | $5,495 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
| Adults | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $572 | $6,859 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
| POS | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $572 | $6,859 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
| HMO | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $576 | $6,914 | $5,578 | $4,064 |
| EPO | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $660 | $7,924 | $5,786 | $3,483 |
| PPO | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $743 | $8,912 | $3,242 | $2,390 |
| With Health Savings Account Elligibility | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $754 | $9,048 | $5,351 | $5,351 |
| Seniors | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,214 | $14,565 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
*These are average rates for all plan types and metal levels, with teens at 18, young adults at 26, adults at 40 and seniors at 60. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds.
Most Affordable South Carolina Health Insurance By Metal Level
Blue Cross Blue Shield leads Bronze coverage at $386 monthly, Expanded Bronze at $397 and Silver at $572 for 40-year-olds. Molina Healthcare offers the cheapest Gold plans at $607 with a $1,465 deductible. South Carolina has no Platinum-tier plans.
| Bronze | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $386 | $4,636 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
| Expanded Bronze | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $397 | $4,763 | $7,725 | $5,550 |
| Silver | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $572 | $6,859 | $6,341 | $3,121 |
| Gold | Molina Healthcare | $607 | $7,282 | $6,054 | $1,465 |
Cheap South Carolina Health Insurance: Personalized Picks
Filter South Carolina health insurance plans by age, plan type and metal level to find rates that match your needs.
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Pee Dee Silver 2 | $550 | HMO | Silver | $5,229 | $4,557 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Pee Dee Silver 2 + Adult Vision | $552 | HMO | Silver | $5,229 | $4,557 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Pee Dee Silver 1 | $554 | HMO | Silver | $6,196 | $4,043 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Congaree Silver 2 | $560 | HMO | Silver | $5,229 | $4,557 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Congaree Silver 2 + Adult Vision | $561 | HMO | Silver | $5,229 | $4,557 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Pee Dee Standard Silver | $562 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Congaree Silver 1 | $563 | HMO | Silver | $6,196 | $4,043 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Cooper Silver 2 | $571 | HMO | Silver | $5,229 | $4,557 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Congaree Standard Silver | $572 | HMO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Cooper Silver 2 + Adult Vision | $573 | HMO | Silver | $5,229 | $4,557 | 40 | No |
How to Get Cheap Health Insurance in South Carolina
Premiums in South Carolina differ by hundreds of dollars between insurers. Follow these steps to lower your costs without sacrificing coverage.
- 1Compare multiple metal tiers
Don't default to the cheapest Bronze or Catastrophic plan. Silver and Gold plans provide better value when you factor in lower deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, especially if you need regular medical care.
- 2Evaluate your actual health care needs
Review last year's health care spending. If you only visited the doctor twice and didn't need prescriptions, a high-deductible plan saves money. For example, if you spent $500 last year on two routine doctor visits and one urgent care trip, a Bronze plan with a $6,000 deductible might save you $150 monthly compared to a Gold plan.
- 3Consider HMO plans
HMO plans cost less than PPO options in South Carolina. You'll need to stay within the provider network, but Ambetter and other HMO providers save you $100 or more monthly.
- 4Check for subsidies
Premium tax credits from the Health Insurance Marketplace reduce your monthly costs based on your income. Even middle-income families qualify for assistance. Check your eligibility before purchasing a plan.
- 5Shop during Open Enrollment
Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15 each year. Missing this window means waiting until next year unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to major life changes like marriage, birth or job loss.
- 6Compare Provider Networks
Check if your current doctors accept the insurance plan you're considering. Call their offices directly or use the insurer's online provider directory. Switching plans might require finding new healthcare providers, which could disrupt ongoing treatment relationships and add unexpected costs.
Cheapest Health Insurance in South Carolina: Bottom Line
Ambetter leads South Carolina with the lowest premiums. First Choice Next and Molina Healthcare also beat the state average. But here's the catch: monthly premiums don't tell the whole story since you'll pay different amounts when you actually need care depending on each plan's deductibles, copays and network restrictions.
Affordable Health Insurance in South Carolina: FAQ
Find answers to the most common health insurance questions for South Carolina residents:
How do I get cheap health insurance in South Carolina?
Shop during open enrollment (November 1 to January 15) and compare plans from Ambetter, First Choice Next and Molina Healthcare across multiple metal tiers. Check your eligibility for premium tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace. HMO plans cost less than PPO options in South Carolina.
How much does health insurance cost in South Carolina?
Health insurance in South Carolina costs an average of $643 monthly ($7,716 annually) across all plan types and metal levels. Monthly rates range from $231 to $1,679 depending on your age, coverage tier and plan type.
Does South Carolina require health insurance?
South Carolina doesn't require health insurance. The federal individual mandate penalty ended in 2019, so you won't face tax penalties for going uninsured. Coverage provides financial protection from high medical costs and covers preventive care and treatment.
Our Methodology
Comparing health insurance in South Carolina means sorting through multiple providers with different rate structures across age groups and plan types. We analyzed every available plan from federal marketplace data to identify which insurers offer the lowest premiums for South Carolina residents.
Research Approach
We collected premium data for five ages: 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. These ages show how rates change from young adult coverage through near-Medicare eligibility, revealing the full cost range South Carolina residents face at different life stages.
Why We Focus on 40-Year-Olds
Our primary affordability rankings use 40-year-old rates because this age sits at the midpoint of the working-age population in South Carolina. Using one consistent age removes variables and provides clear comparisons across providers without age distorting the results.
Age-Specific Rankings
We also ranked insurers separately at each age bracket. A provider that's cheapest for young adults might not be most affordable for someone near 60, so these age-specific rankings help you find the best rate for your life stage.
All data comes from federal sources and covers metal tiers and plan types available to South Carolina residents through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.