South Carolina Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in South Carolina runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked December 16–January 15 start February 1. Private, medically underwritten plans don't use the window: if approved, they can start the first of any month.
Key dates for South Carolina
| What | HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment opens | November 1, 2026 |
| Open enrollment closes | January 15, 2027 |
| Deadline for a January 1, 2027 start | December 15, 2026 |
| Plans picked December 16 to January 15 | Start February 1, 2027 |
| Private plans | Any month, if approved |
South Carolina at a glance
- Where South Carolina buys Marketplace plans: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace
- 2027 average rate change: 22.1% (finalized)
- Insurers filing individual plans: six
- Small-group average change: about 8.9%
- Largest metro areas: Greenville–Spartanburg, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach
- Medicaid expansion: No
What changed for 2027
South Carolina's 22.1 percent is finalized, while the 8.9 percent small-group figure is one of the smallest group increases I track, one of the widest gaps between the two markets on my list. More detail is on the South Carolina 2027 premium increase page.
For South Carolina households buying 2027 coverage, the Marketplace premium tax credit stops at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four. The repayment caps were removed starting with tax year 2026, so any excess advance credit is repaid in full on Form 8962. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.
Who this year's window matters for in South Carolina
South Carolina's finalized 22 percent individual increase is among the largest on my list, while small-group plans rise a modest 8.9 percent, an unusual gap. Six insurers filed, and Charleston, Columbia and Greenville have more options than rural counties. For a healthy self-employed resident above the subsidy line, a private plan priced on health deserves a look next to the renewal.
Self-employed work that is common in South Carolina, and the people I most often help there: hospitality and tourism workers along the Grand Strand and in Charleston, construction trades, real estate agents, manufacturing and automotive-supplier contractors in the Upstate, and port and trucking contractors in Charleston.
Before you renew in South Carolina
South Carolinians in Rock Hill and Fort Mill who work or see doctors in Charlotte should check that a 2027 plan covers North Carolina providers. Newcomers who moved to the coast or the Upstate this year can use the move as a qualifying event, but during open enrollment anyone can switch, so this is the simplest time to fix a plan that no longer fits.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and HealthCare.gov re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 22.1% higher on average in South Carolina.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in South Carolina too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for South Carolina's window.
Health conditions or subsidy-eligible income
Use the Marketplace. HealthCare.gov plans can't decline you or charge more for your health.
Checklist before you pick a plan
- Your South Carolina renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Greenville–Spartanburg or Columbia
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After South Carolina's window closes, a Marketplace plan needs a special enrollment event: losing other coverage, a move, marriage or a baby, generally within 60 days, through HealthCare.gov. Check with Can I enroll now? or the missed open enrollment guide.
Leaving a job in South Carolina? South Carolina requires insured group plans to offer continuation for the rest of the month coverage ends plus six months, after at least six months of coverage, at the full group premium.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: South Carolina's insurance department adopted the federal short-term limits in 2024, three months initial and four months total, and has not issued newer guidance. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In South Carolina, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare South Carolina plans before you renew
Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.
About your broker
Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307) is a health insurance broker licensed in 31 states including South Carolina. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee. BBB Accredited (A) and rated 4.9 on Google from 78 reviews. He is independent, not HealthCare.gov or a government agency.
South Carolina open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in South Carolina for 2027?
January 15, 2027, on HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace. Pick a plan by December 15 for a January 1 start in South Carolina.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in South Carolina?
You can still enroll through January 15, but a plan picked after December 15 starts February 1.
Can I get a private plan in South Carolina outside open enrollment?
Yes. In South Carolina you can apply in any month, and if approved, a private, medically underwritten plan starts the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health.
Will I be auto-renewed in South Carolina?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 22.1% higher on average.
Is there a fee to use a broker in South Carolina?
No. South Carolina clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Why is the South Carolina individual increase bigger than the small-group one?
Insurers price the two markets separately. Individual plans rise about 22 percent for 2027 and small-group plans about 8.9 percent, so an individual buyer above the subsidy line pays the full 22 percent while a small employer's renewal may be easier to absorb.
More for South Carolina
Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. HealthCare.gov is the federal Marketplace. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in South Carolina and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.