The following comes directly from the SC Department of Insurance:
Exchange Basics
Under the Affordable Care Act, individual and small group health insurance coverage will be available for purchase in online exchanges. In South Carolina, these exchanges will be established and operated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These exchanges are in addition to the existing private health insurance market and, as with any health insurance product, the insurance company must be licensed and the rates and forms for these products must be approved by the S.C. Department of Insurance. These plans must also be certified by the federal government as Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) in order to be sold in these federally-facilitated exchanges (FFEs). Purchasing a QHP through the FFEs is the only way to access federal subsidies.
Qualified Health Plans That Will Be Available in 2014
Below is a summary of the plans that have been conditionally approved by the federal government for sale through the federal exchanges in South Carolina.
Individual Market Coverage (Individuals, Families, and Self-Employed)
Qualified Health Plans Conditionally Certified for Sale in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Definitions and Additional Information
¹The Health Insurance Marketplace, also called the Federally-facilitated Marketplace or Exchange, is the name of the exchange that the federal government is establishing in South Carolina for the individual market. Plans sold through the Marketplace may be eligible for federal subsidies depending on your income and number of dependents. Open enrollment for plans sold through the Health Insurance Marketplace will begin on October 1st with coverage effective on or after January 1, 2014. For more information, please visit www.healthcare.gov or call 1 (800) 318-2596.
2The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is the name of the small group health insurance exchange that the federal government is establishing in South Carolina. Small employers that purchase health insurance through the SHOP may be eligible for federal tax credits under federal eligiblity criteria. For more information, please visit www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/shop or call 1 (800) 318-2596. Additional resources available for small businesses include the IRS website (click here), the U.S. Small Business Administration’s health care website (click here), and the SHOP call center, 1 (800) 706-7893, which is available Moday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
With so many choices, it is important to have the help of a South Carolina Obamacare Agent.