South Carolina
Cheapest ACA plans in West Columbia, South Carolina for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
West Columbia is in Lexington County, South Carolina. 3 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on Healthcare.gov for residents of Lexington County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $401/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in Lexington County, including West Columbia.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in West Columbia (Lexington County), on-exchange, before any subsidy. Per-age figures derived from the CMS QHP Landscape file using the HHS standardized age-rating curve (45 CFR 147.102).
| Tier | Cheapest age 40 monthly | Plans in Lexington County |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $401 | 1 |
| Expanded Bronze | $417 | 14 |
| Silver | $592 | 20 |
| Gold | $621 | 17 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in West Columbia
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Blue Congaree Bronze 2
$401/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Blue Congaree Bronze 2 at $1,281/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in West Columbia
3 carriers sell 2026 plans on Healthcare.gov for Lexington County residents; 1 additional carrier offers off-exchange-only plans (not subsidy-eligible). 106 plans total in Lexington County.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | 31 |
| Molina Healthcare of South Carolina, Inc. | 12 |
| Ambetter | 9 |
Also selling off-exchange only
These carriers sell plans directly (not through Healthcare.gov). Off-exchange plans are not eligible for federal APTC or state subsidies.
| Carrier | Off-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| BlueChoice HealthPlan Inc. | 16 |
What you'll actually pay in West Columbia
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($401/mo before subsidy) on Healthcare.gov, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the Lexington Countybenchmark Silver per 26 USC §36B. Approximate; exact net varies by plan's EHB% and child-rate structure.
Single 40-year-old
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 160% | $497/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $307/mo | $94/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $96/mo | $305/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $401/mo |
Family of 4 (two 40-year-olds, two children)
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 124% | $1,828/mo | $0/mo |
| $80,000 | 249% | $1,338/mo | $0/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,281/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,281/mo |
FPL = Federal Poverty Level. APTC = Advance Premium Tax Credit (the federal subsidy). Off-exchange and Catastrophic plans are not APTC-eligible. Enter your real income on the home page to see plan-specific net premium with the per-plan EHB-percent cap applied.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ACA plan in West Columbia, South Carolina for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Blue Congaree Bronze 2 at $401 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through Healthcare.gov. West Columbia is in Lexington County, South Carolina; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
How does West Columbia's 2026 ACA pricing compare to other South Carolina cities?
Cheapest Bronze for a 40-year-old in West Columbia is $401 per month before subsidies. For comparison: Charleston at $391/mo; Columbia at $386/mo; Greenville at $399/mo. Different cities can have different cheapest plans because plans are sold per county and carrier participation varies by jurisdiction.
Does South Carolina use Healthcare.gov?
Yes. South Carolina participates in the federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM), so enrollment and subsidy applications run through healthcare.gov. South Carolina does not operate a state-based exchange.
Has South Carolina expanded Medicaid?
No. South Carolina has not adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. Medicaid (Healthy Connections) for non-disabled adults is narrow (parents roughly below 67% FPL, pregnant women, and categorically needy groups), which leaves a coverage gap for low-income working adults without children.
How big is the South Carolina coverage gap?
Estimates of the South Carolina coverage gap vary, but tens of thousands of adults earn below 100% FPL and are not eligible for Medicaid under state rules. They also cannot receive federal premium tax credits because APTC starts at 100% FPL. Options include federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), hospital charity care, and county indigent-care programs.
More South Carolina pricing
- Statewide South Carolina pricing and metal tiers
- Charleston pricingcheapest Bronze $391/mo
- Columbia pricingcheapest Bronze $386/mo
- Greenville pricingcheapest Bronze $399/mo
Sources
- HealthCare.gov for enrollment, OEP dates, and federal APTC / CSR application.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance for state regulatory oversight of individual-market filings and rate review.
- South Carolina Healthy Connections (Medicaid) for state Medicaid eligibility categories under non-expansion rules.
- KFF: South Carolina State Health Facts for Medicaid expansion status, coverage gap estimates, and enrollment counts.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.