South Carolina open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · South Carolina

South Carolina Open Enrollment 2027 for Small Business Owners

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

Short answer

For small business owners 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. Your own coverage can also come from a private, medically underwritten plan, which does not wait for the window: 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.

Group plans can renew at any point in the year, so open enrollment matters to owners for two reasons: an individual coverage HRA, or ICHRA, reimburses employees for individual plans they choose, and most of that shopping happens in this window; and an owner covering only the household buys in the individual market too. For your own household, the 2027 subsidy line is $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two and $132,000 for four.

South Carolina this year

South Carolina has an unusually wide gap between its markets for 2027. Finalized individual rates climb about 22.1 percent, among the steepest on my list, while small-group renewals run a much milder 8.9 percent. Six insurers offer individual plans, with more choice in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville than in rural counties. For a Grand Strand hospitality business, an Upstate automotive supplier, a Charleston port trucking firm or a Rock Hill construction company, that spread makes a group plan look strong this year. An ICHRA would push employees into the faster-rising individual market on HealthCare.gov instead.

Small-group plans in South Carolina average about 8.9% for 2027, against 22.1% for individual plans, so put this year's group renewal next to an ICHRA quote before you sign it.

One thing to do before you choose

If your group renewal lands near the 8.9 percent average, renewing may be the steadier choice for 2027. Still ask for the full quote and check it against individual prices for a couple of employees in Myrtle Beach or Spartanburg, since some owners see renewals far above the average. Group plans renew on their own schedule, not tied to open enrollment, so your timing can differ.

Your checklist

Your 2027 group renewal letter and its effective date
How many employees you have and where they live
A fixed monthly ICHRA budget you could offer
Your own household's coverage, priced separately

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

For the owner's own household when everyone is healthy: priced on age, ZIP code and health. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

For employees on an ICHRA, or an owner with ongoing care: HealthCare.gov accepts everyone during open enrollment.

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.

What do South Carolina rules say about former employees continuing my group policy?

In South Carolina, an insured group plan must allow continuation through the close of the month coverage ends plus six more months, for anyone enrolled half a year. The cost is the full group premium for that period, so it works mainly as a short bridge.

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.