Richland County, South Carolina
Medicare agents in Richland County, SC
Find a licensed agent with an office in Richland County, and see what Medicare looks like here: how many people have it, how many are in Medicare Advantage, and how many plans are offered for 2027.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026. General information, not advice about any plan.
Agents in Richland County
No agents with an office in Richland County are listed yet. Agents licensed anywhere in South Carolina can help by phone or video: see agents in South Carolina.
Before you meet anyone, check their South Carolina license.
Medicare in Richland County
- People with Medicare
- 78,198
- In Medicare Advantage or another Medicare health plan
- 43% (33,996)
- With both Medicare and Medicaid*
- 15% (11,846)
Richland County ranks 4th of South Carolina's 46 counties by number of people with Medicare. 43% are in Medicare Advantage or another Medicare health plan, compared with 47% across South Carolina. 15% also have Medicaid*, compared with 13% statewide.
Source: CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, July 2026, for the county and the state. Richland County has about 430,651 residents (Census, 2024). Medicare health plans include Medicare Advantage, cost plans and PACE, not Medigap or drug plans. *Includes people who get help only with Medicare costs from a Medicare Savings Program.
2027 plans offered in Richland County
- Medicare Advantage with drug coverage
- 28 plans, 19 with a $0 plan premium
- Medicare Advantage without drug coverage
- 11 plans
- Special Needs Plans
- 21 plans: 10 for people with both Medicare and Medicaid; 5 for people with certain chronic conditions; 6 for people who live in, or need the care of, a nursing home. Only people who qualify can join.
- Companies offering these plans
- 9
For comparison, the typical South Carolina county has 28 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage for 2027.
Standalone drug plans in South Carolina: 8 plans, with monthly premiums from $5.30.
Source: CMS 2027 plan landscape (updated October 2026), which lists plans by county. A $0 plan premium doesn't mean $0 costs: you still pay the Part B premium, plus copays, and plans differ in their yearly limit and in which doctors and drugs they cover. How to compare.
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Richland County
Everything on this page applies across the whole county, including these places.
Cities and towns, largest first
- Columbia
- Forest Acres
- Irmo
- Blythewood
- Arcadia Lakes
- Eastover
- Cayce
Unincorporated communities
- Arthurtown
- Capitol View
- Dentsville
- Gadsden
- Hopkins
- Lake Murray of Richland
- Olympia
- St. Andrews
- Woodfield
ZIP codes
Source: Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates, the 2020 list of census-designated places, and 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (which leave out ZIP codes used only for PO boxes). A place or ZIP code that crosses a county line is listed in each county it covers a real part of.
Free local help
- South Carolina State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
- South Carolina's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program. 1-800-868-9095 · Website
- The South Carolina Department of Insurance
- Licenses agents and takes complaints. 1-800-768-3467 · How to check a license
- 1-800-MEDICARE
- 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays.
South Carolina rules to know
- Switching Medigap plans
- South Carolina doesn't add a yearly Medigap switching right. Outside your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period (which starts when you're 65 or older and have Part B) and certain federal protections, such as losing other coverage, insurers can usually ask health questions and turn you down. States with switching rights.
- Medigap under 65
- Required, with limits. South Carolina does not make private insurers sell Medigap to people under 65, but the state's health insurance pool (SCHIP), which the Department of Insurance says is open to new applicants who can't get Medicare Supplement coverage privately, must offer Medigap coverage (it lists Plans A, C and D) to people under 65 who have Medicare Parts A and B for reasons other than age.
- Agent licenses
- Agents must be licensed for health insurance in South Carolina. Look one up.
Dates to know
- October 15 to December 7
- Open Enrollment: change Medicare Advantage or drug plans for the next year.
- January 1 to March 31
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: one change for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Turning 65
- A 7-month window around your birthday month. The checklist.
Moving to Richland County from another state opens a special enrollment period for Medicare Advantage and drug plans. It doesn't by itself let you buy Medigap without health questions. What to do.
Common questions
How many people in Richland County have Medicare?
In Richland County, 78,198 people had Medicare in July 2026, according to CMS. About 43% were in Medicare Advantage or another Medicare health plan; the rest had Original Medicare.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Richland County for 2027?
CMS lists 28 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in Richland County for 2027 (19 with a $0 plan premium; you still pay the Part B premium), 11 without drug coverage, and 21 Special Needs Plans for people who qualify, from 9 companies. Medicare.gov's Plan Finder shows which ones cover your address, doctors and drugs.
Which towns does this page cover?
All of Richland County, including Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Blythewood, Arcadia Lakes, Eastover, Cayce, Arthurtown and 8 more. Medicare Advantage plans are generally offered county by county, so the plan counts here apply across Richland County.
Which ZIP codes are in Richland County?
29016, 29036, 29044, 29045, 29052, 29061, 29063, 29075, 29078, 29177, 29201, 29203 and 11 more, according to the Census Bureau. A ZIP code that crosses a county line can be listed in more than one county.
Where can I get free Medicare help in Richland County?
South Carolina's free counseling program, South Carolina State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) (1-800-868-9095), gives unbiased one-on-one help. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) any time.
Will I pay more for a plan if I use an agent?
No. A plan's premium is set by the plan, and you pay the same whether you enroll through an agent, the plan, or Medicare.gov. Agents can't charge a fee to enroll you in a Medicare Advantage or drug plan.
Nearby
Keep reading
- How to find a good Medicare agent near youWhere to look for a local Medicare agent, how to narrow the list to one or two, and the five-minute checks to do before you share anything.
- Medicare Open Enrollment checklist: what to check before December 7A step-by-step checklist for the October 15 to December 7, 2026 Open Enrollment Period: what to read in your plan's letter, what's changing for 2027, what you can switch, and what happens if you do nothing.
- Medicare Advantage or Medigap? The questions that decide itNeither is better for everyone. How the two common Medicare set-ups differ, the questions that point to one or the other, and why the first choice is the hardest to undo.
Ready to talk to someone local?
Search by ZIP code. Verified agents are listed first, and every listing is free to contact.