South Carolina open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · South Carolina

South Carolina Open Enrollment 2027 for Individuals

Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker

Short answer

For individuals and couples 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 works on its own clock: if approved, it can start the first of any month, whether or not the window is open.

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.

For 2027 the subsidy line is $63,840 for one person and $86,560 for a couple; above it, every metal level is full price. Bronze and catastrophic plans count as HSA-eligible starting with 2026 coverage, and the 2027 out-of-pocket cap is $12,000 for one person, which is the real worst case to compare.

South Carolina this year

South Carolina's finalized 2027 individual increase averages about 22 percent, among the largest on my list, while small-group plans rise only 8.9 percent, an unusually wide gap. Six insurers filed, and Charleston, Columbia and Greenville have more options than rural counties. Enrollment takes place on HealthCare.gov. Marketplace plans often center their networks on a single regional system, so a Columbia resident who wants care in Charleston should look closely. Newcomers from the Northeast or Florida with income over $63,840 as one person, or $86,560 for two, pay the full increase with no subsidy.

One thing to do before you choose

If you moved to the coast or the Upstate this year, open enrollment is the simplest time to fix a plan that no longer fits, since anyone can switch now without proving a qualifying event. Rock Hill and Fort Mill residents who work or see doctors in Charlotte should confirm a 2027 plan covers North Carolina providers. Healthy buyers earning over that line may also price a medically underwritten private plan, which is separate from the Marketplace, needs health approval and varies in benefits.

Your checklist

Each plan's network type in your South Carolina ZIP code
The out-of-pocket maximum next to the premium
Your 2027 income against the one- or two-person line
Bronze with an HSA if you rarely need care

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

Healthy single adults or couples above the line: priced on age, ZIP code and health. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

A health condition or income under the line: HealthCare.gov must accept you, and the subsidy can lower the price.

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.

Get a quote Book a call (786) 218-2384

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.

I'm a part-time worker who just moved to Myrtle Beach. Can a short-term plan carry me for a year?

Not in South Carolina. The state adopted the federal short-term limits in 2024, three months initial and four months total, replacing its older, longer limits. Short-term plans are a brief bridge at most. During open enrollment you can choose a Marketplace plan instead, which avoids stringing short policies together.

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

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.