Quick answer
In 2026, the benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old in South Carolina averaged $564 a month before subsidies, below the U.S. average of $625. Prices rise with age, from about $441 a month at 21 to $1,324 at 64. Nearly 9 in 10 enrollees get a premium tax credit, and the average enrollee paid just $139 a month after it. Proposed 2027 rate increases average 16.6% to 17.2%, depending on the calculation, and hadn’t been approved as of late September 2026.
Key takeaways
- South Carolina’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was about $564 a month, below the $625 U.S. average.
- 587,567 South Carolinians picked a plan for 2026, down 7% from 2025, and 89.2% got a premium tax credit, compared with about 87% nationally.
- Proposed 2027 rate increases average 16.6% (healthinsurance.org) to 17.2% (ACA Signups) before subsidies, and hadn’t been approved as of late September 2026.
- All six of South Carolina’s 2026 insurers are returning for 2027, and Oscar Health announced in September 2026 that it’s joining the state’s Marketplace for 2027.
- About 105,000 South Carolinians fall in the state’s Medicaid coverage gap, earning too little for marketplace subsidies but not qualifying for Medicaid.
On this page
What a South Carolina Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $441 |
| 30 | $501 |
| 40 | $564 |
| 50 | $788 |
| 60 | $1,198 |
| 64 | $1,324 |
| Child under 15 | $338 |
A family of four with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $1,803 a month for benchmark plans before subsidies.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, a premium tax credit caps what you pay for the benchmark plan at a share of your income. A single 40-year-old in South Carolina earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with a tax credit of about $277. For 2027, the same person’s share would be about $289 a month. Above 400% of the poverty level ($62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage, $63,840 for 2027), you’d pay full price.
Because South Carolina didn’t expand Medicaid, adults with incomes below the poverty level usually can’t get Medicaid or a tax credit. Parents and caretaker relatives qualify for Healthy Connections, the state’s Medicaid program, only up to 67% of the poverty level, and adults without dependent children have no Medicaid path at any income. See health insurance for low-income families.
Costs beyond the premium
What you pay when you get care depends on your plan’s deductible, copays and coinsurance, up to the out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 for one person in 2026 ($12,000 in 2027). If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan’s cost-sharing reductions lower those costs.
South Carolina Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: 587,567 plan selections for 2026, down from 631,948 in 2025. 89.2% got a premium tax credit, and the average enrollee paid just $139 a month after it.
- Insurers: Six carriers returning for 2027: Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Ambetter/Absolute Total Care, Molina, Select Health, UnitedHealthcare and InStil Health. Oscar Health says it’s joining for 2027. Cigna doesn’t sell plans in South Carolina.
- 2027 prices: Still proposed as of late September 2026, with no rate-review announcement yet from the state’s insurance department. healthinsurance.org calculates a weighted average of 16.6%; ACA Signups calculates 17.2%, using enrollment figures that were partly redacted in the filings. By insurer, healthinsurance.org’s figures range from 10.7% (Select Health) to 45.5% (UnitedHealthcare).
- State help: South Carolina has no state premium subsidy, reinsurance program or individual mandate, so shoppers rely on federal tax credits.
- Medicaid: Healthy Connections doesn’t cover non-disabled adults without children at any income, and parents qualify only up to 67% of the poverty level. Children qualify for Medicaid or Partners for Healthy Children, the state’s CHIP, up to 208% of the poverty level. See health insurance for children.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Sign up by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. For ways to keep your bill down, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in South Carolina
- Job-based coverage, usually the cheapest route if it’s offered.
- Medicaid for parents, pregnant people and some children through Healthy Connections, and Partners for Healthy Children for kids’ CHIP coverage.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: North Carolina and Georgia. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices in your South Carolina county: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the average cost of health insurance in South Carolina?
Before subsidies, the 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $564 a month. After tax credits, the average South Carolina enrollee paid just $139 a month in 2026.
Does South Carolina help pay for Marketplace coverage beyond federal tax credits?
No. South Carolina doesn’t run its own premium subsidy or reinsurance program, so shoppers rely entirely on federal premium tax credits.
What is South Carolina’s Medicaid coverage gap?
About 105,000 people earn too little for marketplace subsidies, which start at 100% of the poverty level, but don’t qualify for Healthy Connections, since South Carolina hasn’t expanded Medicaid.
Is Cigna in South Carolina’s Marketplace?
No. All six of South Carolina’s 2026 insurers are returning for 2027, Oscar Health is joining, and Cigna doesn’t sell Marketplace plans there.
Sources
- healthinsurance.org: South Carolina Health Insurance Marketplace
- healthinsurance.org: South Carolina Medicaid
- SCDHHS: Partners for Healthy Children (PHC)
- KFF: Medicaid Income Eligibility Limits for Parents
- ACA Signups: 2027 Rate Changes – South Carolina
- KFF: Marketplace Average Premiums and Average APTC
- Forbes: Oscar Health plans major Obamacare expansion over next three years
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Prices are averages and estimates; your actual premium depends on your county, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.