South Carolina Health Insurance Rates for 2027: What Is Changing
Average individual-market change
22.1%
Status
Final rates
Small-group average change
8.9%
Insurers filing
6
2027 out-of-pocket max
$12,000 / $24,000
South Carolina's finalized 2027 individual-market increase averages about 22 percent, among the largest on this list, while small-group plans rise a comparatively modest 8.9 percent. Six insurers filed individual plans.
South Carolinians enroll through HealthCare.gov. Like its neighbors, South Carolina's Marketplace grew quickly with enhanced credits, so many enrollees now face both the loss of those credits and a large rate increase. Charleston, Columbia and Greenville have more plan options than rural counties. Self-employed residents above the subsidy line should price private plans, which are not affected by income-based rules.
The gap between South Carolina's individual and small-group increases is unusually wide this year, which can make an individual coverage HRA an interesting option for small employers whose staff would otherwise buy their own plans.
Private health insurance in South Carolina
Most people I help in South Carolina end up on a private plan, not a Marketplace plan. Private, medically underwritten health insurance is priced on your age, zip code and health instead of your income, so a strong year never raises your premium and there is no tax credit to pay back in April.
Why people leave the Marketplace
- Premiums keep climbing. South Carolina Marketplace premiums are rising 22.1% on average for 2027.
- The subsidy cliff. Above 400 percent of the poverty level ($63,840 for one person, $132,000 for a family of four) you pay full price.
- Surprise tax bills. Underestimate your income and you repay the tax credit in April.
- Narrow networks. Many plans are local HMOs or EPOs that need referrals and cover little outside the area.
- High out-of-pocket costs. 2027 out-of-pocket maximums reach $12,000 per person and $24,000 per family.
- One window a year. Outside open enrollment you need a qualifying life event to enroll or switch.
What a private plan does differently
- Start any month. If approved, coverage can begin the first of next month, with no wait for open enrollment.
- Networks that travel. Many private plans use national PPO networks, which can give you in-network doctors outside South Carolina too. Networks vary by plan.
- Can cost less than full-price Marketplace plans for some healthy applicants above the subsidy line.
- Accident coverage the Marketplace does not offer. A private plan can be paired with accident coverage, a separate policy. What it includes varies by plan.
- Approval is based on health. You answer health questions, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
With a significant health condition, or income low enough for a large tax credit, a Marketplace plan can be the better fit, and I will tell you if it is. Either way you see both side by side.
Private plans are not ACA Marketplace plans. Benefits, exclusions and pre-existing condition rules differ by plan and by state, so review the plan details before you enroll.
Get a private plan quoteLearn more: coverage not based on income · how underwriting works · private vs Obamacare · PPO plans for individuals · switching from the Marketplace
Who feels the South Carolina increase
If your household gets a premium tax credit, your payment for the benchmark silver plan is capped as a share of income, so most of a rate increase is absorbed by a larger credit. If your household earns more than 400 percent of the poverty level for 2027, $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four, there is no credit and you pay the full 22.1% increase. The subsidy cliff guide explains the line. Healthy and above that line? Compare private health insurance in South Carolina, priced on age, ZIP and health instead of income, if approved.
Where and when to enroll in South Carolina
South Carolina residents enroll through HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027; choose by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. Private, medically underwritten plans are not tied to open enrollment and can start the first of any month if you are approved.
South Carolina 2027 rate questions
How much are South Carolina premiums going up in 2027?
About 22 percent on average for the individual market and about 8.9 percent for small-group plans, based on final rates.
How many insurers sell South Carolina Marketplace plans?
Six insurers filed individual-market plans for 2027.
Where do South Carolina residents enroll?
Through HealthCare.gov, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
What is the 2027 out-of-pocket maximum for South Carolina Marketplace plans?
The federal limit for 2027 is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family, up from $10,600 and $21,200 in 2026. It applies to every ACA-compliant plan in South Carolina, and individual plans can set a lower limit.
Sources: rate-filing trackers at healthinsurance.org (rechecked November 11, 2026) and ACASignups.net. Averages are across insurers; your own renewal depends on your plan, county and age. More on health insurance in South Carolina. Esta página en español.
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Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance agent, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 11, 2026.