Medicare Advantage

5 Medicare Advantage Plans Not Returning in South Carolina for 2027: The List

COLUMBIA, S.C. — When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published its 2027 Medicare Advantage Landscape file, five plans that South Carolina residents can enroll in for 2026 did not come back. Statewide, 97 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers are listed for 2027, and the five that stepped away belong to Aetna (CVS Health), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), HealthSpring, and Humana. If your plan is on that list, you have time and options — but the calendar matters.

How many Medicare Advantage plans are not returning in South Carolina for 2027?

Five Medicare Advantage plans offered in South Carolina for 2026 are not in the CMS 2027 Landscape file for any county in the state. For 2027, 97 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers are listed statewide. The five non-renewing plans come from five different carriers: Aetna (CVS Health), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), HealthSpring, and Humana. The full names and plan types are shown in the table on this page.

Which non-returning South Carolina plans served the most counties in 2026?

Of the five plans not coming back to South Carolina in 2027, DEVOTED PREMIUM 003 SC (HMO) from Devoted Health served the widest footprint at 28 counties this year. HealthSpring True Choice Plus (PPO) was offered in 16 counties, and Aetna Medicare Signature Care (PPO) in 10. Humana Gold Plus H5619-083 (HMO) served 4 counties, and Wellpoint Medicare Advantage (HMO) from Elevance Health (Anthem) served 2. A plan is sold county by county, so being on this list does not mean it was offered everywhere in South Carolina — only in the counties shown.

How can a South Carolina member tell if their Medicare Advantage plan is leaving in 2027?

There are two reliable ways to tell. First, the carrier is required to mail a non-renewal notice before Annual Enrollment 2027 opens on October 15, 2026; it typically arrives in late September or early October and will say the plan will not be offered in 2027. Second, compare the plan's exact name on your member ID card to the five names in the table above. If the name matches and you live in one of the counties that plan served, your coverage ends December 31, 2026.

What happens to a South Carolina enrollee who does nothing before December 7, 2026?

A member of a non-renewing Medicare Advantage plan who makes no choice by December 7, 2026 is moved to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1, 2027. Original Medicare does not include Part D prescription drug coverage, so a separate stand-alone drug plan must be chosen to have drug benefits. Any extra benefits that came through the Medicare Advantage plan — the kinds of items listed in that plan's Evidence of Coverage — end with the plan on December 31, 2026.

What is the Special Enrollment Period and Medigap guaranteed-issue right for a non-renewed plan?

Federal rules give people whose Medicare Advantage plan is non-renewed a Special Enrollment Period that runs from December 8, 2026 through the end of February 2027. During that window, a member can join another Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D plan without waiting for the next Annual Enrollment. The same involuntary loss of coverage also triggers a federal Medigap guaranteed-issue right, which lets a person buy certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting within a limited time. Specific Medigap rules in South Carolina — which policies, which carriers, which windows — are set at the state level, so the South Carolina Department of Insurance is the right source for state detail.

How do I check my county's 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup in South Carolina?

The county-by-county lineup for 2027 is on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder: enter your ZIP code and the tool shows every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan available where you live, drawn from the same CMS Landscape data that produced the 97-plan statewide count. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Plan details — premiums, cost sharing, covered drugs, pharmacy and provider networks, and star ratings — come from Plan Finder, 1-800-MEDICARE, or the plan's own Evidence of Coverage and directories.

What should a South Carolina Medicare member do before December 7, 2026?

Before December 7, 2026, read the Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter from your current plan, then compare 2027 options for your county on Medicare.gov. If your plan is on the non-renewal list, choosing a new Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan during Annual Enrollment 2027 (October 15 – December 7, 2026) means coverage starts January 1, 2027 with no gap. If you prefer Original Medicare plus a Medigap and Part D plan, the Special Enrollment Period and federal guaranteed-issue right tied to a non-renewal give you a second window into February 2027.

Where can South Carolina readers get free help with 2027 Medicare choices?

Free, unbiased help is available directly from Medicare. The Plan Finder at Medicare.gov compares every plan in your ZIP code using the official CMS data. 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) answers questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including help enrolling, switching, or returning to Original Medicare. For questions about Social Security premiums or Part B enrollment, the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov is the right source.