Local Guides
More than 28% of Beaufort County residents are 65 or older. Here is how Medicare works in the county, what is changing for 2027, and where to get free help.
More than one in four Beaufort County residents is 65 or older, and local plan options are changing for 2027. Here is the local picture.
The 2020 census counted 187,117 people in Beaufort County, with a median age of 47.3. About 28.4% were 65 or older, which works out to roughly 53,000 people. Hilton Head Island is the largest community, and the county also includes Beaufort, Bluffton, and Port Royal. The county seat is the city of Beaufort.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are sold by county. Two neighbors on opposite sides of a county line can have different plans available. If you live in Beaufort County, the plans you can join are the ones approved for Beaufort County, no matter where your doctors are.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is removing its BlueCross Total (PPO) plan from Beaufort and Charleston counties for 2027, according to a tracker of plan endings. Members will need to choose a new plan. Nationally, CMS reports that the average person will have 35 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in 2027, down from 39.
Many Beaufort County residents see doctors in more than one place: Hilton Head, Bluffton, Beaufort, or Savannah. Before you pick a plan, confirm that each of your doctors, your specialists, and your hospital are in its network. Ask about referrals and prior authorization.
South Carolina's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling through the SC Department on Aging at 1-800-868-9095. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or compare plans at Medicare.gov.
Skyler Abilla is a licensed Medicare agent based in Bluffton. Call (843) 284-6815 or book a free call, or see our Bluffton Medicare page.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020 figures as reported on Wikipedia for Beaufort County, Hilton Head Island, and Beaufort, South Carolina; SC Department on Aging.
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