ICHRA savings in South Carolina
46 South Carolina counties price individual coverage below small group. Employers there save up to $5,119 per employee per year.
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · plan-year 2026, lowest-cost silver (age 50), same year both markets.
Top South Carolina counties by savings
Monthly benchmark premiums: individual vs small group, 2026 plan year.
| County | Individual /mo | Small group /mo | You save | Annual / employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood County | $539 | $966 | 44.2% | $5,119 |
| Bamberg County | $536 | $939 | 42.9% | $4,834 |
| Abbeville County | $491 | $830 | 40.9% | $4,073 |
| Lee County | $571 | $939 | 39.2% | $4,413 |
| Kershaw County | $567 | $932 | 39.2% | $4,381 |
| Georgetown County | $542 | $889 | 39.1% | $4,169 |
| Marion County | $588 | $937 | 37.3% | $4,194 |
| Darlington County | $584 | $910 | 35.9% | $3,917 |
| Sumter County | $620 | $965 | 35.8% | $4,147 |
| Edgefield County | $537 | $837 | 35.8% | $3,597 |
| Williamsburg County | $555 | $862 | 35.6% | $3,680 |
| McCormick County | $545 | $830 | 34.4% | $3,430 |
Showing top 12 of 46 qualifying South Carolina counties. Explore them all on the interactive map.
South Carolina county savings pages
Every South Carolina county where the 2026 benchmark gap tops $100/employee/month — each with its own local breakdown.
- Greenwood County 44.2%
- Bamberg County 42.9%
- Abbeville County 40.9%
- Lee County 39.2%
- Kershaw County 39.2%
- Georgetown County 39.1%
- Marion County 37.3%
- Darlington County 35.9%
- Sumter County 35.8%
- Edgefield County 35.8%
- Williamsburg County 35.6%
- McCormick County 34.4%
- Dillon County 34.3%
- Fairfield County 32.5%
- Charleston County 32.1%
- Colleton County 31.2%
- Saluda County 30.7%
- Laurens County 30.4%
- Newberry County 30%
- Aiken County 30%
- Lexington County 29.9%
- Jasper County 29.9%
- Oconee County 29.8%
- Florence County 29.6%
- Richland County 29.5%
- Horry County 29.5%
- Orangeburg County 29%
- Calhoun County 28.7%
- Chester County 27.4%
- Clarendon County 27.2%
- Barnwell County 25.9%
- Beaufort County 25%
- Chesterfield County 24.7%
- Berkeley County 23.9%
- Dorchester County 23%
- Pickens County 22.9%
- Cherokee County 22.8%
- Greenville County 22.8%
- Marlboro County 22.1%
- Allendale County 21.4%
- Lancaster County 21%
- Hampton County 18.7%
The South Carolina picture
South Carolina is quietly one of the stronger states in the Southeast for individual-market pricing: 46 counties qualify, and 36 of them show an estimated gap above $200 per employee per month in 2026 plan-year data (lowest-cost silver, age 50, individual versus small group). Greenwood County tops the list at an estimated $427 per month — roughly a 44.2% difference. Separately, insurers have filed for an average 17.5% individual-market increase for 2027; that filing is news context and plays no role in these estimates.
The story here isn't one standout county — it's breadth. From the Upstate through the Midlands to the coast, most qualifying South Carolina counties clear $200 per employee per month in estimated savings, so an employer with locations in Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston isn't betting on a single favorable ZIP code. Companies like yours could see the estimated advantage hold across nearly the whole footprint rather than in a few pockets.
South Carolina ICHRA FAQs
How much can employers save with an ICHRA in South Carolina?
Across 46 qualifying South Carolina counties, the 2026 gap between small-group and individual silver coverage averages 28% — up to $5,119 per employee per year in the strongest county. Figures are plan-year-2026 estimates (lowest-cost silver, age 50, same year both markets), not quotes.
Which South Carolina county has the biggest ICHRA savings?
Greenwood County currently shows the widest 2026 spread in South Carolina: individual $539/mo vs small group $966/mo — about 44.2% ($5,119/employee/year, estimated).
Does every South Carolina county qualify for ICHRA savings?
No. Only counties where the individual market prices below small group make the list — 46 in South Carolina for plan year 2026. In other counties a savings-driven ICHRA usually is not the right move, and an analysis will say so.
Where does this South Carolina data come from?
Individual-market premiums come from the CMS Marketplace Public Use Files and small-group benchmarks from Ideon — lowest-cost silver plan, age 50, same county and same plan year (2026) on both sides.
Is the individual-market price advantage in South Carolina limited to a few rural counties?
No — that's what makes the state unusual. In 2026 plan-year data, 36 of the 46 qualifying counties show an estimated gap above $200 per employee per month, so the advantage spans metro and rural areas alike. Greenwood County leads at an estimated $427 per month, but the broader pattern means multi-location employers don't depend on one county's pricing. These are estimates, and actual results depend on your workforce's ages and locations.
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