- 4carriers selling 2027 marketplace plans in Charleston County
- 62plans on the Charleston shelf, from 24 bronze to 18 gold
- $705benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Charleston, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Charleston County
Charleston County has more carriers than Greenville County, the other South Carolina county I track, four against three. Across all 79 counties and parishes I track, 44 have more carriers than Charleston. The biggest lineup in Charleston belongs to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina with 23 plans, about 37 percent of everything on offer.
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | 23 | 9 | 7 | 6 | EPO 14, HMO 9 |
| Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | HMO 17 |
| OscarOscar Health Plan, Inc. New for 2027 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | HMO 14 |
| First Choice Next | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | HMO 8 |
Charleston plan counts from the CMS 2027 landscape file (county FIPS 45019, Rating Area 10). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
What changed in Charleston County for 2027
Molina Healthcare sold 12 of the 60 plans in Charleston County in 2026 and has no plans here in the 2027 CMS file. If you were enrolled with Molina Healthcare, you should have a notice by now. If you do nothing you are moved to a replacement plan picked on price and metal level, and nothing in that process checks your doctors or prescriptions. New in Charleston for 2027: Oscar. Charleston now has four carriers and 62 plans, against four carriers and 60 plans in 2026.
What it costs in Charleston County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Charleston plan at each metal level. I show the sticker price because it is what your subsidy is subtracted from, and most people who enroll in Charleston pay less, often a lot less.
| Monthly premium, full price | Age 21 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Couple, both 40 | Couple 40 + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bronze | $396 | $506 | $1,076 | $1,013 | $1,619 |
| Lowest silver | $551 | $704 | $1,494 | $1,407 | $2,250 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $552 | $705 | $1,497 | $1,410 | $2,254 |
| Lowest gold | $556 | $711 | $1,510 | $1,422 | $2,273 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 19 silver premiums listed for Charleston. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Charleston County
Charleston County is one of 32 of the 79 counties and parishes on my list where the metal levels are priced in the order you would expect. The cheapest gold at 40 is $711, which is $6 above the benchmark silver and $7 above the cheapest silver. In Charleston the extra gold premium pays for a lower deductible rather than coming free.
In Charleston County the benchmark is $199 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 34 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a wider one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $705 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Charleston whose expected share is $199 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Charleston gap grows to $422 and at 21 it shrinks to $155, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
Greenville County, around Greenville, is the other South Carolina county I track. Compared with Greenville County, the Charleston benchmark is $36 lower at 40 and the cheapest bronze is $16 lower. Oscar sells in Charleston and not in Greenville County.
Charleston plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 1 | 0 | |
| Bronze | 2 | 0 | $10,600 to $12,000 |
| Expanded Bronze | 22 | 5 | $0 to $9,350 |
| Silver | 19 | 0 | $4,700 to $9,000 |
| Gold | 18 | 3 | $0 to $3,900 |
| Total | 62 | 8 |
There is not a single PPO on the 2027 marketplace in Charleston County. The 62 plans split into 48 HMO and 14 EPO. Outside emergencies, the 14 EPO and 48 HMO plans in Charleston generally pay nothing out of network, so the network list matters more than the premium. 8 plans in Charleston have a $0 medical deductible (5 expanded bronze and 3 gold). The 5 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $11,800 to $12,000, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Charleston price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Charleston the premium tax credit is measured against the $705 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Charleston numbers for you.
2027 plans for Charleston County
These are the 2027 plans and prices for Charleston County, from the CMS plan file released at the end of October 2026. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in South Carolina runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1. If you already have a Charleston plan, compare before you let it renew, because your carrier and your benchmark may both have changed.
Questions about Charleston County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Charleston County, South Carolina?
For 2027, four carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Charleston County: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Ambetter from Absolute Total Care, Oscar and First Choice Next. Together they offer 62 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Charleston County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Charleston County is $396 a month for a 21 year old, $506 at 40 and $1,076 at 60. In Charleston a couple both aged 40 pays $1,013 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,619. Catastrophic plans in Charleston, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $362 at age 21. Most people in Charleston who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Charleston County for 2027?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $705 a month for a 40 year old in Charleston County before subsidies. In Charleston it is $552 at age 21 and $1,497 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $704 at 40.
Which insurance companies left Charleston County for 2027?
Molina Healthcare sold 12 plans in Charleston County in 2026 and has no plans there in the 2027 CMS plan file. Carriers still selling from the 2026 lineup: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Ambetter from Absolute Total Care and First Choice Next. New for 2027: Oscar.
Can I get a PPO plan in Charleston County?
Not on the 2027 marketplace. All 62 plans in Charleston County are HMO or EPO plans. 8 of them have a $0 medical deductible, and the cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Charleston is $711 a month before subsidies.
More for Charleston County residents
- Health insurance brokers in South Carolina, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in South Carolina
- How Charleston compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Charleston subsidy
Get your Charleston County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Charleston plan you qualify for with your subsidy applied, free and with no pressure.
Get my free quote → Or book a callSources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical, plan year 2027 (public use file), Charleston County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines