South Carolina Open Enrollment 2027 for Families
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
For families buying their own coverage in South Carolina, open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov, and December 15 is the date to choose by for a January 1 start. A private, medically underwritten plan for the household does not wait for the window either: if approved, it can start the first of any month.
What 2027 looks like for you
South Carolina's average 2027 rate change is 22.1% (finalized). The details are on the South Carolina 2027 premium increase page.
The 2027 subsidy line rises with household size: $109,280 for a household of three, $132,000 for four, and higher for larger families. Marketplace plans charge for at most three children under 21, so a bigger family's premium stops growing after the third child. South Carolina parents above the line pay full price at every metal level, which is when a side-by-side comparison matters most.
South Carolina this year
South Carolina's finalized 2027 increase averages about 22 percent, among the largest I see, while small-group plans rise a comparatively mild 8.9 percent. Six insurers filed. Charleston, Columbia and Greenville–Spartanburg offer more plans than rural counties, and families in Myrtle Beach or Rock Hill should check which plans their own county offers. The state's Marketplace grew quickly while the larger subsidies lasted, so many households are now absorbing both their loss and this jump. South Carolinians enroll through HealthCare.gov, and the doors close January 15. The state's subsidy stops at $132,000 for a household of four.
One thing to do before you choose
Rock Hill and Fort Mill parents whose children see doctors in Charlotte should confirm that a 2027 plan includes North Carolina providers. Families who moved to the coast or the Upstate this year can use open enrollment to fix a plan that no longer fits, no qualifying event needed. Healthy households past the subsidy cutoff should have me price a private family plan against that 22 percent renewal.
Your checklist
- Each family member's doctors and the children's hospital you use
- The family deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
- Household income against your household-size line
- Planned 2027 care: a pregnancy, braces or surgery
Private plan or Marketplace?
Private plan
Whole household healthy, income above the line: each person is approved on their own health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.
Marketplace
Ongoing care for a child or parent, or income under the line: HealthCare.gov accepts everyone, and the subsidy grows with household size.
Compare South Carolina plans this open enrollment
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), licensed in 31 states including South Carolina. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee; independent, not HealthCare.gov or any government agency.
Questions
When is the 2027 open enrollment deadline in South Carolina?
January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Choose by December 15, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1; plans picked after that start February 1.
Why is South Carolina's family increase so much bigger than the small-group number?
Individual plans are averaging about 22 percent for 2027, while small-group plans average about 8.9 percent, an unusually wide gap. If a parent's employer offers group coverage, compare adding the family there against buying individually. Otherwise, line up Marketplace plans and private options before renewing.
Can I get a private plan in South Carolina after open enrollment closes?
Yes. You can apply in any month and, if approved, a private plan can start the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health answers.
More for South Carolina
- South Carolina open enrollment 2027: dates and options
- South Carolina open enrollment for self-employed
- South Carolina open enrollment for early retirees
- South Carolina open enrollment for small business owners
- South Carolina open enrollment for people between jobs
- South Carolina open enrollment for individuals
- South Carolina open enrollment for people over the subsidy line
- South Carolina open enrollment for marketplace renewals
- Family health insurance, explained
- South Carolina health insurance quotes
Official sources: HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace; HealthCare.gov: special enrollment periods. 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.