Is There South Carolina Medicare?
The short answer is yes! You can get a variety of types of Medicare in the Palmetto State. And this here is ya’ll’s guide to that.
Sorry, I had to get all Southern on ya there. I’m not from SC but I’ve lived her for 14 years, and it kinda grows on you!
Who Qualifies for South Carolina Medicare?
Medicare is actually a federal program. Medicare is the U.S. health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. Some who are younger than age 65 can also qualify for Medicare, like people with disabilities or with permanent kidney failure.
Read our guide to who’s eligible for Medicare.
And here’s more about when you can apply for Medicare.
Keep in mind that when you get original Medicare parts A and B, it doesn’t cover everything.
And you have to get more than just A and B if you want prescription coverage. Get more info on that here.
And don’t miss the main Medicare website, Medicare.gov.
What About Medicaid in South Carolina?
If you have lower income, you may also be eligible for Medicaid. Check out this resource for more on that.
Also, read about the differences between Medicare and Medicaid.
Keep in mind that while Medicare is more of a federal program, helped out by private insurance companies, Medicaid is state-administered, so how it works in SC may be different than how it works in GA, NC, NJ, etc. In SC, Medicaid is called “Healthy Connections.”
And here are the income limits for Medicaid in South Carolina. That’s also a really handy way to find out what all the Medicaid programs are!
If you want to apply for Medicaid, go here.
If you do qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, you are considered “Dual Eligible.” There are special Medicare Advantage plans for dual eligible people which often have zero premium, low or no costs, and additional benefits like gym memberships, money for over the counter prescriptions, and even things like wigs if you need cancer treatment!
You can check on the Medicare Advantage plans in your area of SC here.
Even if you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you may qualify for Extra Help which lowers prescription costs. Find out and apply!
How to Apply for Medicare in South Carolina
Again, it’s a Federal program, so you’re going to go to Medicare.gov… This is THE WEBPAGE for getting Medicare. Read it and take action!
And check out our basics on Medicare:
If you have any questions, or need help getting started, reach out to PandaCare!
