Shopping for health insurance, Greenville residents use HealthCare.gov, South Carolina’s federal Marketplace. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; enroll by Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage. For 2026, three insurers sold Marketplace plans in Greenville County, so compare networks for Prisma Health and Bon Secours carefully.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026)
How health insurance Greenville shoppers buy works for 2027
If you aren’t covered through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE, you buy your own plan on HealthCare.gov, directly or through a licensed agent. The plan price is identical either way.
South Carolina hasn’t expanded Medicaid, so most Greenville adults qualify for help only once household income reaches 100% of the poverty level. From 100% to 400% of poverty, a premium tax credit lowers the monthly premium. Our South Carolina health insurance guide covers Healthy Connections Medicaid, the coverage gap and statewide rules.
Every Marketplace plan covers essential benefits and can’t deny you for a pre-existing condition. What changes from plan to plan is the price, the deductible and, above all, the network.
Insurers selling health insurance in Greenville County
For 2026, the South Carolina Department of Insurance listed three Marketplace insurers in Greenville County: Absolute Total Care (Ambetter), BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and Select Health of South Carolina. Molina and UnitedHealthcare did not sell Marketplace plans in Greenville County for 2026.
Fewer insurers means fewer network choices, which makes checking your doctors even more important. The department had not posted its 2027 county list as of mid-October 2026, and preliminary 2027 filings point to double-digit average increases statewide. Compare every 2027 option for your ZIP code rather than letting last year’s plan renew.
Prisma Health and Bon Secours: check your network
Greenville has two large hospital systems, and Marketplace plans may not include both. Before you choose health insurance, Greenville families should confirm their doctors, specialists and preferred hospital are in each plan’s 2027 directory.
- Prisma Health runs Greenville Memorial Hospital and many Upstate practices (prismahealth.org).
- Bon Secours St. Francis Health System operates St. Francis Downtown and St. Francis Eastside in Greenville.
Bon Secours financial assistance
Bon Secours provides free care for eligible patients at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and discounts from 201% to 400%, according to its financial assistance policy. Call 877-342-1500 to ask about an application. Financial assistance lowers hospital bills; it doesn’t replace insurance.
Manufacturing jobs and coverage changes
The Upstate is a manufacturing region. BMW’s plant in nearby Greer employs more than 11,000 people, according to BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, and many suppliers and contractors work around it.
Manufacturing and supplier jobs often come with job-based coverage, but layoffs, plant shifts and contract work can end it. Losing job coverage is a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. Compare a subsidized Marketplace plan with COBRA before you decide; COBRA keeps the same plan but you usually pay the full cost.
Tip: If your employer’s plan is too expensive for your whole family, your spouse and children may qualify for Marketplace savings on their own. In 2027 the test is whether family coverage costs more than 10.22% of household income.
Honesty.AI checks 2027 networks, applies your subsidy and compares every plan in Greenville County.
Clinics for uninsured Greenville residents
If you’re uninsured, in the coverage gap or waiting for coverage to start, Greenville has several low-cost and free options.
- Greenville Free Medical Clinic, 600 Arlington Avenue, offers free medical, dental and prescription care to eligible low-income, uninsured Greenville County residents. Call (864) 232-1470.
- New Horizon Family Health Services charges on a sliding fee scale, with locations on West Faris Road and in Berea, Greer and Travelers Rest.
- Unity Health on Main, 505 North Main Street, is a community health center in a designated medically underserved area with a sliding fee scale.
The Greenville County Health Department, run by the SC Department of Public Health at 352 Halton Road, offers family planning, immunizations, WIC and other services; call (864) 372-3270 or see DPH clinics.
What you’ll pay for health insurance in Greenville in 2027
Premiums depend on age, ZIP code, household size and 2027 income. For 2027, the IRS sets your expected share of the benchmark Silver plan at 2.15% to 10.22% of income, depending on where you fall between 100% and 400% of poverty. Above 400%, the credit disappears.
| Household | Credit starts (100% FPL) | Credit ends (400% FPL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
If your income is at or below 250% of poverty, choose Silver to get cost-sharing reductions. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family. See the 2027 subsidies guide and the affordable health insurance South Carolina hub for more.
Children in households up to 213% of poverty may qualify for Healthy Connections Medicaid or CHIP, which can make a family’s total cost far lower than covering everyone on one Marketplace plan.
Moving to the Upstate? Set up coverage first
Greenville keeps attracting newcomers for jobs in manufacturing, health care and downtown businesses. A permanent move into Greenville County gives you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period, as long as you had qualifying health coverage for at least one day in the 60 days before you moved.
Use that window well. Coverage from another state’s plan often won’t include Upstate doctors, so pick a South Carolina plan whose network covers the practice you plan to use. When you shop for health insurance, Greenville newcomers should keep a lease, utility bill or closing document handy, because HealthCare.gov may ask you to prove the move.
Self-employed and small-business owners
Freelancers, tradespeople and owners of small downtown shops make up a real share of people buying health insurance. Greenville self-employed shoppers should estimate 2027 net income after expenses, since that is what sets the credit, and update it if a big job or slow season changes the picture. If you have a few employees, ask whether an individual coverage arrangement or small-group plan fits better than separate Marketplace plans.
Choosing a metal level
Bronze plans have the lowest premiums and the highest deductibles. Silver plans sit in the middle and are the only ones with cost-sharing reductions. Gold plans cost more each month but pay more when you use care. If you expect surgery, a pregnancy or regular specialist visits in 2027, run the numbers on Silver and Gold before choosing Bronze. Our guide to choosing a health plan walks through the trade-offs.
Enrolling and local help in Greenville
Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage, or by January 15 for February 1. See our Open Enrollment 2027 guide.
Greenville County is one of 15 South Carolina counties where Choose Healthy Life, the state’s CMS Navigator for 2026–2027, provides in-person help, according to CMS. Find an appointment at localhelp.healthcare.gov.
Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed in South Carolina and helps by chat, voice or text, 24/7. Learn how Honesty.AI works. Heading to the coast? Read our Charleston health insurance guide.
Find your 2027 Greenville plan the honest way
Honesty.AI, the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans for Greenville County. It’s on your side, not the carriers’. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
How many insurers sell Marketplace plans in Greenville County?
For 2026, three: Absolute Total Care (Ambetter), BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and Select Health of South Carolina, per the South Carolina Department of Insurance. Check HealthCare.gov for the 2027 list.
Does Bon Secours offer free care in Greenville?
Bon Secours provides free care for eligible patients at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and discounts from 201% to 400%. It lowers hospital bills but is not insurance.
I lost my manufacturing job. Can I get a Marketplace plan?
Yes. Losing job-based coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period, generally for 60 days. You may qualify for a premium tax credit based on your expected 2027 income.
Is there a free clinic in Greenville for people without insurance?
Yes. The Greenville Free Medical Clinic at 600 Arlington Avenue provides free medical, dental and prescription care to eligible low-income, uninsured Greenville County residents.
Keep learning: read the South Carolina health insurance guide, the affordable health insurance South Carolina hub, our Charleston guide, and the 2027 subsidies guide.
