South Carolina Health Insurance

How healthy is living in South Carolina?

South Carolina was among the bottom 10 states in the nation, coming in at #45 in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of bing drinking – 11
• Prevalence of obesity – 45
• High school graduation – 48
• Violent crime – 50
• Infectious disease – 42
• Immunization coverage – 16
• Poor mental health days – 41
• Infant mortality – 47
• Premature death – 46

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on South Carolina.

Does South Carolina have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

South Carolina Health Insurance Pool
Toll-free Phone 1-800-868-2500, ext. 42757, or 1-803-788-0500, ext. 42757 

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, South Carolina will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about South Carolina's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in South Carolina

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in South Carolina and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in South Carolina.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in South Carolina

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for South Carolina.

USNews health insurance rankings for South Carolina

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in South Carolina.

Official State Goverment Sites with South Carolina Health Insurance Information

Hands on Health South Carolina -- a resource by South Carolina's state government to help and encourage state residents to live healthier lives.

South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services -- manages the state's Medicaid program to provide heath care coverage for those who cannot afford it.

Partners for Health Insurance (PHC) -- South Carolina's program to provide Medicare coverage to children 18 and under who live in families with income at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.