Medicare Supplement Plans in South Carolina
Medigap policies cover the gaps in coverage that Original Medicare insurance does not pay. Out-of-pocket expenses include copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. There are ten Medicare Supplement plans in South Carolina. Each provides a different level of coverage — in addition to your standard Medicare benefits — to help you save on healthcare costs.
Here’s how Original Medicare helps with your medical expenses:
Part A – Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility, nursing home, hospice, and home health
Part B – Outpatient care, such as medical appointments, preventive care, screenings, lab work, and medically necessary supplies
Medicare Supplement insurance plans in South Carolina are also known as Medigap plans.
They expand Medicare benefits by reducing out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance.
Medicare Supplement Plan options in South Carolina
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan F
Medicare Supplement Plan F has been the most popular plan option for Medicare Supplement insurance in South Carolina. The drawback is that it’s only available to those who became eligible for Medicare before Jan. 1, 2020.
Plan F offers the broadest coverage to defray your medical expenses by assisting with copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. It also covers the Part B deductible. However, the plan has the most expensive premiums.
It includes:
- Part A hospital coinsurance
- Hospital costs up to 365 days after benefits through Original Medicare are exhausted
- Part A hospice care copays or coinsurance
- Part A deductible
- Part B deductible
- Part B preventive office visit coinsurance
- Part B coinsurance or copays
- Excess charges for Medicare Part B
- First three pints of blood needed for a medical procedure
- Coinsurance for care in a skilled nursing facility
- Limited foreign travel emergency care
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan G
Medicare Plan G is an option for those who became eligible for Medicare after Jan. 1, 2020, and it is the Medicare Supplement plan most similar to Plan F.
With a Medigap Plan G insurance policy, you will have assistance with copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, but it doesn’t cover the Part B deductible.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan N
Medigap Plan N gives beneficiaries cost savings with lower premiums. However, with lower premiums comes higher out-of-pocket costs. Plan N requires a $20 copay for doctor’s appointments and up to $50 for emergency room visits.
Top rated Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies in South Carolina
The following three companies are the most popular in Medigap plans in South Carolina.
1. Cigna
Cigna is highly rated, with a five-star rating from Medicare (out of five stars) in 2021. Cigna is an excellent option for your Medicare Supplement insurance policy.
2. Aetna
Aetna has an overall weighted average of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars in 2021. Aetna offers a wide range of options in their Medigap plans, which your licensed insurance agent can explain.
One of the very first companies to offer Medicare Supplement plans after Medicare began in 1965, Mutual of Omaha received 2.5 stars out of a 5-star rating in 2021
Medicare Supplement Insurance Cost in South Carolina
The average cost of a Medicare Supplement plan in Greenville, South Carolina, (29615 zip code) for a 65-year-old, nonsmoking female is:
| Plan type | Premium Range |
|---|---|
| Plan F | $180.00 – $300.00 |
| Plan G | $117.00 – $220.00 |
| Plan N | $90.00 – $200.00 |
When Can I Apply for a Medicare Supplement Plan?
You can begin to apply for a Medicare Supplement plan in SC during a six-month period that begins the month you turn 65. This is the only time you can buy a Medigap policy with zero penalties, even if you have pre-existing or underlying conditions. The insurance plans cost the same no matter how healthy you are.
After this enrollment period, you can still buy a Medigap policy, but it may be more expensive because insurers can consider your health condition when underwriting.
You must be enrolled in Original Medicare before applying for a Medicare Supplement plan.
Please note that the Medigap open enrollment period differs from the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period. Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 is the open enrollment period when you can change your Medicare Advantage plan, also known as Medicare Plan C. You can also change Medicare Part D, which offers prescription drug coverage, during this time.
Please speak to your licensed insurance agent to clarify deadlines and enrollment periods.
Ready to learn more?
We specialize in educating consumers on their options and guiding them through the plan selection process. We work closely with some of the nation’s top-rated. Compare our list of the 10 Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies or take a deeper look at the plans by reviewing our Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart. Learn more about Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans, or request a Medicare Supplement Plan Quote.
| Related Topics: | |
|---|---|
| Aetna Medigap Plan G Cigna Medigap Plan G | Mutual of Omaha Plan G Medicare Supplements 2023 |
South Carolina Medicare Resources:
https://www.doi.sc.gov/medigap
https://www.doi.sc.gov/639/Medicare-Supplement-Insurance
https://aging.sc.gov/programs-initiatives/medicare-and-medicare-fraud
South Carolina Enrollment Statistics
In 2019, South Carolina’s population was 5,153,463. Approximately 20 percent of the people were 65 or older. The number of residents in the five most populous counties in the state in 2019 was:
• Greenville 506,837
• Richland 411,592
• Charleston 401,438
• Horry 333,268
• Spartanburg 306,854
Roughly 1,051,955 Medicare beneficiaries in the state. Approximately 82 percent were enrolled because of age and 18 percent because of disabilities prior to age 65. In 2014, South Carolina ranked 25th in spending per beneficiary, at $10,298 per enrollee.
Approximately 36.6 percent of those with Original Medicare insurance in South Carolina had Medigap policies.
Each Medicare Supplement plan in South Carolina offers specific benefits and costs differently. Therefore, you must evaluate your current and projected healthcare needs and budget to find the best plan.
Key Take Aways
- In South Carolina, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the most popular plan for 2022.
- Plan G doesn’t have a deductible, but you will have to pay the Part B deductible of $233 in 2022.
- Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in South Carolina are also known as Medigap plans.