1,230,967
Total Medicare beneficiaries
45.4%
On Medicare Advantage
54.6%
On Original Medicare
$202.90
Standard Part B premium (2026)
Medicare Enrollment by County in South Carolina
The 15 most-populous counties by Medicare beneficiaries. Click any column heading to sort. Medicare Advantage percentage is the share of each county’s beneficiaries enrolled in an MA or other health plan.
| Horry County | 128,159 | 43.7% |
| Greenville County | 115,341 | 48.0% |
| Charleston County | 83,331 | 35.9% |
| Richland County | 74,843 | 41.2% |
| Spartanburg County | 72,812 | 52.8% |
| Lexington County | 64,924 | 39.7% |
| Beaufort County | 60,894 | 33.1% |
| York County | 55,119 | 45.0% |
| Anderson County | 47,950 | 52.4% |
| Berkeley County | 45,857 | 42.1% |
| Aiken County | 43,458 | 42.8% |
| Dorchester County | 32,323 | 41.3% |
| Florence County | 31,986 | 44.8% |
| Pickens County | 29,702 | 52.5% |
| Lancaster County | 26,455 | 43.6% |
Key Findings: Medicare in South Carolina
- 1South Carolina has about 1.23 million Medicare beneficiaries — the smallest of the six states.
- 2South Carolina is the only one of these states where most beneficiaries (54.6%) remain in Original Medicare rather than Medicare Advantage.
- 3Coastal retirement destinations have the lowest MA penetration — Beaufort (33.1%) and Charleston (35.9%) — where Medigap is especially popular.
- 4Upstate counties lean more toward Medicare Advantage — Spartanburg (52.8%) and Pickens (52.5%).
- 5Horry County (the Myrtle Beach area) has the most Medicare beneficiaries in the state, about 128,000.
How South Carolina Compares to National Averages
Medicare Advantage penetration
South Carolina is at 45.4%, 8.6 points below the national average of about 54%.
Plans available
Nationally, the average beneficiary can choose from about 32 Medicare Advantage prescription-drug plans for 2026. The exact number available depends on your county.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Nationally, about 41.9% of Original Medicare beneficiaries carry a Medigap policy (AHIP, 2023). State-by-state Medigap rates are not published in an open dataset, so this figure is national. In South Carolina, 54.6% of beneficiaries are in Original Medicare and therefore eligible to buy Medigap.
Find the Best Medicare Plan in Your South Carolina County
The right plan depends on where you live. Get a free, personalized review of the Medicare options available in your South Carolina county from a licensed advisor.
Get My Free Medicare ReviewMethodology & Sources
Enrollment and county data: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Monthly Enrollment, 2024 (data.cms.gov). Figures are 2024 annual counts. Medicare Advantage percentage = (beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage & Other Health Plans ÷ total beneficiaries) × 100. The county table shows the 15 most-populous counties of 46 total.
Part B premium: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. The standard premium is set federally and is the same in every state; higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related adjustment (IRMAA).
Plan counts and Medigap: KFF, Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight (CMS Landscape files); AHIP, The State of Medicare Supplement Coverage, 2023. These are reported as national figures only.
Limitations: Medicare Supplement (Medigap) enrollment and per-county plan counts are not available in an open dataset at the state or county level, so they are not shown per county. Percentages are rounded. Last updated 2026-06-11.
This page is for educational purposes. HealthPlan Connect is not affiliated with or endorsed by CMS or any government agency. Contact a licensed advisor for current plan options in your area.