Fill the Gaps Original Medicare
Leaves Behind.

Plan G is currently the most comprehensive Medigap plan available to new Medicare enrollees in South Carolina. After meeting the annual Part B deductible, it covers 100% of Medicare-approved costs with no additional out-of-pocket. Plan N offers a lower premium with modest copays ($20 office visits, $50 ER) and is a strong fit for healthy enrollees who rarely use medical care. The right plan depends on your health, budget, and how often you use medical care.

During your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the six months starting when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B — you cannot be denied or charged more for any health condition in South Carolina. Outside this window, carriers in SC can use medical underwriting, meaning they can deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on health history. This is why timing your enrollment carefully is so important.

Plan G premiums in South Carolina typically range from $110 to $220 per month for a 65-year-old non-smoker, depending on the carrier, your county, your gender, and tobacco use. Rates generally increase with age. As an independent agent, we compare every carrier available in your specific SC area to find the lowest current rate and factor in historical rate increase patterns — which often matters more than today's lowest premium over the long run.

No. You cannot have both simultaneously. Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare, so a Supplement that works alongside Original Medicare is incompatible with an MA plan. You choose one path: Original Medicare plus a Supplement plus a standalone Part D plan, or Medicare Advantage (which usually includes drug coverage). We help SC clients evaluate both paths before recommending one.

There is no annual enrollment period for Medicare Supplement plans in SC — you can apply to switch any time of year. The catch is that outside guaranteed issue situations, you typically have to answer health questions and pass medical underwriting. Many SC clients review their Supplement annually around their birthday or policy anniversary to compare current rates. If you are healthy enough to qualify, switching to a lower-cost carrier offering the identical coverage can save real money.

Guaranteed issue rights are situations where insurers in South Carolina must sell you a Supplement plan regardless of your health history. Common triggers include losing employer or union coverage that pays after Medicare, your Medicare Advantage plan leaving your service area or ending, moving out of your plan's service area, or your previous Medigap insurer going bankrupt. You generally have 63 days from the qualifying event to apply. We help SC clients identify and use these rights when they apply.

No. Modern Medicare Supplement plans do not include prescription drug coverage. To get drug coverage with a Supplement, you need to enroll in a standalone Medicare Part D plan separately. Most SC clients with a Supplement pair it with a Part D plan, and we run a personalized drug-by-drug Part D comparison at the same time we shop your Supplement so the full package works together.

Yes. Several carriers offering Medicare Supplement plans in South Carolina provide household discounts when two people in the same residence (married or not, depending on the carrier) each enroll in a Supplement with that carrier. Discount amounts vary, generally 5 to 12 percent off the premium, and the rules vary by carrier. We always check for household discount eligibility when shopping Supplements for couples in SC.