South Carolina Short-Term Health Insurance: Rules, Plans and Costs

By Michael Sprague, Licensed Health Insurance Agent · Reviewed by Heather Sprague, Licensed Health Insurance Agent

Yes, you can buy short-term health insurance in South Carolina. Through UnitedHealthcare, plans last 1 month to just under 12 months and use the UnitedHealthcare Choice network. TriTerm Medical, a multi-year option, is also sold here. These plans require health questions and are not ACA coverage.

This guide explains South Carolina's short-term rules, what the plans leave out, who they fit and how they compare with HealthCare.gov plans. For a free quote, call 888-730-6031 or request a free quote.

What Are the South Carolina Short-Term Health Insurance Rules?

Short-term health insurance in South Carolina is shaped by three layers of rules: federal rules, South Carolina insurance law and what each insurer files with the South Carolina Department of Insurance.

Short-term plans are not required to follow the Affordable Care Act. They can ask health questions, decline applicants, exclude pre-existing conditions and leave out benefits like maternity care. In exchange, premiums are often lower than full-price ACA plans.

How Long Can a Short-Term Plan Last in South Carolina?

A 2024 federal rule limited new short-term plans to a 3-month first term and 4 months in total. On August 7, 2025, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury said they would not prioritize enforcing that rule and plan to revisit it. Federal regulators have said a new rule is expected, so check for updates before you buy.

UnitedHealthcare plans in South Carolina can run from 1 month to just under 12 months. You pick the end date when you apply.

Short-term plans from UnitedHealthcare are not renewable. If you need more time, you apply again and answer health questions again.

South Carolina Short-Term Plan Options at a Glance

Feature	South Carolina details
Short-term plan length	1 month to just under 12 months
Provider network	UnitedHealthcare Choice
TriTerm Medical	Yes, three back-to-back terms
Pre-existing conditions	Short-term: generally not covered. TriTerm: excluded for the first 12 months.
When you can buy	Any time of year
Insurer	Golden Rule Insurance Company, a UnitedHealthcare company

TriTerm Medical in South Carolina

UnitedHealthcare also sells TriTerm Medical in South Carolina. TriTerm covers three back-to-back terms from a single application, for just under three years of coverage. You answer health questions once, up front. Pre-existing conditions are not covered for the first 12 months of coverage.

TriTerm is still not ACA coverage, and it does not qualify for premium tax credits. It can work for healthy people who expect a long gap, such as early retirees waiting on Medicare. See who qualifies for TriTerm Medical and our TriTerm vs short-term comparison.

What Short-Term Plans in South Carolina Usually Do Not Cover

Every plan is different, so read the plan brochure before you buy. Common exclusions and limits include:

• Pre-existing conditions, often defined as conditions treated or diagnosed in the 24 months before coverage starts.
• Maternity and newborn care for a pregnancy that began before coverage.
• Limited mental health and substance use treatment.
• Limited or no prescription drug coverage on some plans.
• Preventive care that ACA plans cover at no cost.
• A maximum benefit, such as a per-policy limit, instead of unlimited coverage.

Read more in what short-term health insurance covers and our guide to short-term plans and pre-existing conditions.

Who Can Buy Short-Term Health Insurance in South Carolina?

You must live in South Carolina and answer the insurer's health questions. Applicants with certain serious conditions, people who are pregnant and people eligible for Medicare are generally not accepted. Plans are sold to individuals and families, and children can be covered with a parent.

Short-Term vs ACA Plans in South Carolina

Feature	Short-term plan	ACA plan (HealthCare.gov)
Pre-existing conditions	Usually excluded	Covered
Health questions	Yes	No
Premium tax credits	No	Yes, if you qualify
When you can enroll	Any time	Open enrollment or a special enrollment period
Essential health benefits	Not required	Required
Plan length	1 month to just under 12 months	Calendar year

If you qualify for a premium tax credit, an ACA plan may cost less than a short-term plan. Compare both. Our short-term vs ACA guide goes deeper.

When South Carolina Residents Use Short-Term Plans

• Missed open enrollment: HealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 ends January 15, 2027. Short-term coverage can bridge the gap. See short-term health insurance after open enrollment.
• Between jobs: while you wait for a new employer plan to start.
• Instead of COBRA: if you are healthy and COBRA is too expensive. Compare COBRA vs short-term health insurance.
• Early retirement: healthy adults waiting for Medicare at 65.
• Moving to South Carolina: while you set up longer-term coverage.

How Much Does Short-Term Health Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

Prices depend on your age, ZIP code, the deductible and coinsurance you choose, the benefit maximum and how long you need coverage. Short-term premiums are often lower than unsubsidized ACA premiums because the plans cover less and screen for health.

The fastest way to see real prices is a quote for your ZIP code. Call 888-730-6031 and a licensed agent can show you options side by side.

What to Have Ready Before You Apply

• Your South Carolina ZIP code and the date you want coverage to start.
• The names and birth dates of everyone you want covered.
• Your recent medical history, including medications.
• A list of your doctors, to check the UnitedHealthcare Choice network.
• A payment method for the first premium.

South Carolina Short-Term Health Insurance: FAQ

Can you buy short-term health insurance in South Carolina?

Yes. UnitedHealthcare sells short-term plans in South Carolina that last 1 month to just under 12 months.

Is TriTerm Medical available in South Carolina?

Yes. TriTerm Medical offers three back-to-back terms, just under three years of coverage, from one application.

Do South Carolina short-term plans cover pre-existing conditions?

Generally no. Most short-term plans exclude conditions treated or diagnosed before coverage starts.

Can I renew a short-term plan in South Carolina?

UnitedHealthcare short-term plans are not renewable. You would apply for a new plan and answer health questions again.

Is short-term insurance cheaper than an ACA plan in South Carolina?

Often, if you do not qualify for a premium tax credit. If you do qualify, an ACA plan may cost less and cover more.

Next Steps for South Carolina short-term health insurance

Decide how long you need coverage and whether you have health conditions a short-term plan would exclude. Then compare a short-term plan with an ACA plan through HealthCare.gov. Learn more about short-term health insurance and South Carolina health insurance.

Want a licensed agent to help? Call 888-730-6031, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, or request a free quote.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Labor: Statement on short-term, limited-duration insurance (Aug. 7, 2025)
2. Federal Register: Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance final rule (2024)
3. South Carolina Department of Insurance
4. healthinsurance.org: Short-term health insurance in South Carolina

Related Guides

• Short-term health insurance
• UnitedHealthcare short-term health insurance
• South Carolina health insurance
• Tri-term health insurance

Vivna Insurance is a licensed independent agency, not a government website. Our help is free; we are paid by the insurance companies we work with. Coverage options, deadlines and costs vary by plan and state.