Cheapest South Carolina Health Insurance (2023 Plans)

Aside from Silver plans, other metal tiers have different deductibles, premiums and maximum out-of-pocket limits in South Carolina.

The cheapest health insurance for the average individual in South Carolina is Cigna Connect 0B, offered by Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina, averaging $484 per month.

Health insurance premiums change according to the metal tier. When a plan is more expensive, it provides more comprehensive coverage.

Here are the most affordable plans according to metal tier and their average premiums:

• Catastrophic: BlueEssentials Catastrophic 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield ($254 per month)
• Bronze: First Choice Next Bronze 9100 from First Choice Next ($360 per month)
• Expanded Bronze: BlueExclusive Cooper Bronze 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield ($337 per month)
• Silver: Cigna Connect 0B from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina ($484 per month)
• Gold: BlueExclusive Cooper Gold 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield ($489 per month)

Health insurance plans with lower premiums offer primary health care costs, but more valuable metal tiers, such as Gold or Platinum, cost more monthly but provide more health care benefits and lower maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs.

The cheapest Silver plan in South Carolina is Cigna Connect 0B from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina, costing $484 monthly.

These are the top three Silver plans in the state:

• Cigna Connect 0B from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina: $484 per month
• Cigna Connect 7500 from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina: $488 per month
• Cigna Simple Choice 5800 from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina: $489 per month

Silver plans are the usual choice for health plans because it combines affordability and lower deductibles than most Bronze plans. If you qualify for a cost-sharing reduction (CSR), it will lower your monthly premium, exclusively available with Silver plans.

HMO is the most accessible type in South Carolina. This is why MoneyGeek focuses its recommendations on HMO plans in this section.

The cheapest Gold plan in South Carolina is BlueExclusive Cooper Gold 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield, which costs $489 monthly.

These are the top most affordable Gold plans in the state:

• BlueExclusive Cooper Gold 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $489 per month
• BlueExclusive Pee Dee Gold 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $498 per month
• CMS Standard Gold from Ambetter: $524 per month

Gold plans offer better deductibles than lower-tier plans. You pay less for your health care needs and services before your insurance covers your expenses. However, Gold plans don’t offer the cost-sharing reductions that most Silver plans provide.

The cheapest Bronze plan in South Carolina is First Choice Next Bronze 9100 from First Choice Next, costing $360 per month.

These are the other affordable plans you may consider:

• First Choice Next Bronze 9100 from First Choice Next: $360 per month
• CMS Standard Bronze from Ambetter: $371 per month
• BlueEssentials Standard Bronze from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $373 per month

Bronze plans cost the least in monthly premiums but have the most expensive deductibles. You’ll pay more out of pocket for your routine care.

BlueExclusive Cooper Bronze 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield is the cheapest Expanded Bronze plan in South Carolina. It costs $337 per month.

These are the top three cheapest plans you might consider:

• BlueExclusive Cooper Bronze 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $337 per month
• BlueExclusive Pee Dee Bronze 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $342 per month
• BlueExclusive Reedy Bronze 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield: $366 per month

Expanded Bronze plans are between Bronze and Silver plans. It covers your office visits and one primary service before your deductible. Hence, there’s a copay.

The cheapest Catastrophic plan in South Carolina is BlueEssentials Catastrophic 1 from Blue Cross Blue Shield. It costs $204 per month for a 26-year-old buyer.

Catastrophic plans are available to individuals under the age of 30 experiencing a qualifying hardship. They cover all the primary benefits but come with very high deductibles.

In South Carolina, cost-sharing reductions are available to eligible residents whose income is below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). A cost-sharing reduction (CSR) reduces the financial burden of health care costs after treatment.

MoneyGeek discovered that the cheapest plan for low-income individuals in South Carolina is Cigna Connect 0B from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina.

Here are the MOOP costs based on income:

• Income lower than $20,385 per year: Cigna Connect 0B ($1,000 MOOP)
• Income from $28,386 to $27,180 per year: Cigna Connect 0B ($3,000 MOOP)
• Income from $27,181 to $47,565 per year: Cigna Connect 0B ($7,250 MOOP)

Note that CSRs only apply to Silver plans in South Carolina. If you have more members in your household, the cost-sharing reductions will also fluctuate.

A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan is the most common plan type in South Carolina. However, alternative plan types like Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) plans are available.

Based on MoneyGeek’s research, the most affordable health insurance in South Carolina for HMO and EPO plan types are:

• HMO: Cigna Connect 0B from Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina ($484 per month)
• EPO: BlueExclusive Cooper Silver 2 from Blue Cross Blue Shield ($493 per month)

An EPO plan offers more flexibility when finding services from out-of-network providers and consulting specialists without a referral.

Some plan types are not accessible in South Carolina and may not be available in your area. Hence, the cheapest plan in one county may be less affordable in another.

For example, the cheapest Silver plan in South Carolina’s largest county, Greenville, and the smallest, Allendale, are the following:

• Greenville: First Choice Next Silver 5800 ($526 per month)
• Allendale: Constant Care Silver 8 ($435 per month)

You can browse the table below to check various Silver plan options available in your county.

Health insurance premiums change depending on age and preferred metal tier. For example, check how metal tiers affect the average monthly premium for a 40-year-old in South Carolina:

• Bronze: $758
• Catastrophic: $254
• Expanded Bronze: $832
• Silver: $1,072
• Gold: $1,137

Monthly premiums increase as you age. For example, a Silver plan in South Carolina costs an average of $766 for a young adult (around 18 years old), $1,498 for a middle-aged adult and $2,277 for a senior.

MoneyGeek gathered data from different private health insurance plans to determine the cheapest health insurance in South Carolina. Interested individuals can browse these plans during open enrollment and choose the plan that best suits their coverage level and healthcare needs.

South Carolina residents may also check if they qualify for more affordable government-supported health insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid is available to low-income individuals, while Medicare caters to seniors and those with disabilities.

Open enrollment for private insurance plans usually starts from November 1 to January 15.

December 15, 2023, would be the last day to enroll for coverage starting on January 1, 2024. Early enrollment gives you more time to modify your plan before the period ends.

Health insurance plans in South Carolina are categorized into metal tiers: Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver and Gold.

• Bronze: Affordable premiums with higher deductibles. These plans best suit relatively healthy individuals who don’t expect frequent medical visits. It’s not recommended for those with chronic illnesses and health conditions.
• Expanded Bronze: Slightly more cost-sharing than Bronze plans but still less than Silver plans.
• Silver: The most popular choice with average premiums and MOOP costs. A significant advantage of Silver plans is the opportunity to lower your copay, co-insurance and deductible with cost-sharing reductions.
• Gold: Higher premiums than Silver and Bronze plans, but you’ll pay less out of pocket if you receive regular care.

Catastrophic plans, or worst-case scenario coverage, are also available to eligible individuals who are generally under 30 or have a hardship exemption. These plans usually are the most affordable in terms of premiums but have the most expensive MOOP costs.

Medicaid is a government program that offers free or low-cost medical coverage to eligible individuals according to income.

However, Medicaid expansion has not reached South Carolina, so not everyone can qualify based on income. Those with low income, children of low-income parents, those with disabilities or pregnant women are generally qualified.

Another government-sponsored health care program is Medicare. It’s more affordable than marketplace plans, which South Carolina residents over 65 or with a qualifying illness or disability can purchase.

Medicare has three parts — Part A, B and D — that each cover a specific set of services:

• Part A is similar to hospital insurance and covers inpatient services, hospice care, home care and services received in any facility with skilled nurses.
• Part B functions like medical insurance, covering doctor and preventative service fees and outpatient treatment.
• Part D covers prescription drugs, vaccines and other shots.

MoneyGeek listed the best Medicare Advantage and the best Medicare Supplement plans in South Carolina.

Shopping for health insurance in South Carolina can be daunting. MoneyGeek answered the most commonly asked questions below.