Medicare Part D

South Carolina Part D Plans for 2027: 8 Stand-Alone Drug Plans From 4 Insurers

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolinians on Medicare will see a smaller slate of stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans for 2027. According to the CMS 2027 Landscape file, the state's Part D region will have 8 stand-alone drug plans offered by 4 insurers, down from 11 plans and 6 insurers in 2026. The plans available during Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 take effect January 1, 2027.

Medicare Part DSouth Carolina

How many stand-alone Part D plans are offered in South Carolina for 2027?

South Carolina will have 8 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans from 4 insurers for 2027. That is three fewer plans and two fewer insurers than in 2026, when the state's Part D region had 11 plans from 6 insurers.

The stand-alone plans are offered region-wide, which means any of the 8 plans is available to Medicare beneficiaries anywhere in South Carolina. Three insurers that offered stand-alone plans in the state in 2026 — Aetna Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, and HealthSpring — do not offer stand-alone Part D plans in South Carolina for 2027. One insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX, is new to the state's stand-alone market for 2027.

Drug coverage built into Medicare Advantage plans is separate from this count and is not included in the 8-plan total.

Which insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans in South Carolina for 2027?

Four insurers offer stand-alone Part D plans in South Carolina for 2027. Listed alphabetically with their 2027 plan counts:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TX — 1 plan
• Humana — 3 plans
• UnitedHealthcare — 2 plans
• Wellcare — 2 plans

Plan names, premiums, deductibles, drug lists (formularies), pharmacy networks and star ratings for each of these plans are shown in the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and in each insurer's own plan documents.

What do the 2027 Part D out-of-pocket cap and deductible limit mean for South Carolina?

In 2027, a Medicare Part D enrollee in South Carolina will not pay more than $2,400 out of pocket for covered prescription drugs across the plan year, and no Part D plan may set its deductible higher than $700. The out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026, so the 2027 figure is a $300 increase.

Once an enrollee's out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,400, the plan covers 100 percent of the cost of covered drugs for the rest of the calendar year. The $700 figure is a ceiling: plans may set a lower deductible, or none at all, but no stand-alone Part D plan may charge more than $700 before cost-sharing begins. The specific deductible, copays and coinsurance for any plan are listed on medicare.gov.

For context on the Part D late-enrollment penalty, CMS has set the 2027 base beneficiary premium at $41.33. That national figure is used in the penalty calculation; actual plan premiums are set plan by plan.

Which Part D plans can South Carolinians with full Extra Help join at no premium in 2027?

In South Carolina, 1 stand-alone Part D plan qualifies as a benchmark plan for 2027, meaning a person who receives the full Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) can enroll with no monthly plan premium. In 2026, 2 stand-alone plans in the state qualified as benchmark plans.

Extra Help is the federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays for people with limited income and resources. Eligibility and applications are handled through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security. The current list of benchmark plans by name is on medicare.gov.

How does stand-alone Part D compare with the drug coverage in Medicare Advantage in South Carolina?

Stand-alone Part D plans (PDPs) pair with Original Medicare and cover prescription drugs only; most Medicare Advantage plans in South Carolina include prescription drug coverage inside the medical plan. The 8-plan, 4-insurer figures for 2027 count only stand-alone PDPs in the state's Part D region.

A person who chooses a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage generally does not also enroll in a stand-alone PDP. A person who stays with Original Medicare and wants drug coverage typically adds a stand-alone PDP. Both types of plans use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to display drug lists, pharmacy networks and total estimated costs.

How can South Carolinians check a plan's drug list and pharmacies before December 7, 2026?

The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets a South Carolina resident enter their ZIP code and current prescriptions, then compare each plan's formulary, preferred pharmacies and mail-order options before the December 7, 2026 deadline. Annual Enrollment for 2027 runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and the plan chosen in that window begins January 1, 2027.

Before enrolling, it is worth confirming three things for each drug: whether the drug is on the plan's formulary, what tier it falls on, and whether the pharmacy the enrollee uses is in the plan's preferred network. Each plan's "Evidence of Coverage" and "Summary of Benefits" document, available from the insurer, lists the same details.

The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning January 2027, which is useful background when planning a 2027 budget. The 2027 Part B standard premium, deductible and IRMAA income brackets have not yet been announced by CMS and will be published separately.

Where can South Carolinians get free Medicare help?

Free, official Medicare help is available from Medicare directly. Medicare.gov hosts the Plan Finder, plan documents and enrollment tools, and 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including TTY service at 1-877-486-2048.