Greenwood is the hub for a big stretch of small towns and lake communities, from Ninety Six and Abbeville to Saluda and the retirement neighborhoods around Lake Greenwood and Savannah Lakes. Self Regional covers a lot of local care. For some specialties, though, people drive to Greenville, Columbia, or Augusta, and that's where Medicare plans can quietly come up short.

Mauldin Insurance Group is an independent Medicare agency based in Lexington, SC. We help Greenwood and Lakelands residents compare plans from several carriers by phone or video, at no cost to you.

The 2027 Annual Enrollment Period ends December 7

You can change plans from October 15 through December 7, 2026, and the new plan starts January 1, 2027. When your Annual Notice of Change arrives, look first at whether Self Regional and the out-of-town specialists you use are still covered. If they are and your costs held steady, staying put may be the smart move.

What makes Medicare in the Lakelands different

A regional hospital with a wide reach. Self Regional serves Greenwood and the surrounding counties. For most people here, the first thing a Medicare Advantage plan has to get right is including Self Regional and the doctors connected to it.

Specialists in three directions. Depending on your condition, you may be referred to Greenville, Columbia, or Augusta. A plan that covers your Greenwood doctors might not cover a specialist two hours away. We check each city you'd realistically use.

Lake retirees from all over. Lake Greenwood and Savannah Lakes Village have drawn retirees from other states for years. If you moved here with a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan from somewhere else, it likely doesn't work in South Carolina, and your move opened a special enrollment window that won't stay open.

College and school retirees. Lander University, Piedmont Technical College, and area school districts mean many retirees here have PEBA coverage. Leaving it for an outside plan can be a one-way door. See how PEBA works with Medicare.

Not tied to one insurance company

Captive agents and carrier hotlines can only offer their own company's plans. We're independent, so we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D across several carriers and show you the real differences. You don't pay more for that.

How we help Lakelands residents

→ Checking that Self Regional and your out-of-town specialists are in a plan's network

→ Replacing an out-of-state plan after a move to the lake

→ Weighing Medicare Advantage against a Medicare Supplement when care means long drives

→ Fitting PEBA, TRICARE For Life, or VA benefits together with Medicare

→ Comparing what your prescriptions cost at your local pharmacy

Four mistakes we see around Greenwood

1. Forgetting the out-of-town specialist. A plan can cover everything in Greenwood and still leave out the Greenville or Columbia doctor you'd be referred to.

2. Holding onto a plan from another state. If you moved to the lake, check your coverage now rather than at your next doctor's visit.

3. Treating PEBA like any other coverage. Retiree benefits through the state may not come back once you leave them.

4. Skipping the supplement window at 65. South Carolina supplement companies must accept you regardless of health only in your first six months on Part B. Later, you can be declined.

What working with us is like

We'll ask about your doctors in Greenwood and anywhere else you go for care, your medications, and your pharmacy. Then we'll show you the 2027 plans that fit and what each would likely cost you over a year. We meet by phone or video, so you can do it from the house or the dock.

Frequently Asked Questions: Medicare in Greenwood, SC

How does a Medicare agent in Greenwood help me? We pull plans from several carriers serving Greenwood County, compare them with your doctors and prescriptions, and enroll you. We're also there afterward when a claim goes wrong and each fall when it's time to review.

What do you charge for this? Nothing. Agents are paid by the insurers, and your premium is the same with or without us.

When does Medicare Annual Enrollment happen for 2027? From October 15 through December 7, 2026. Coverage you choose starts January 1, 2027. Medicare Advantage members also get one switch from January 1 to March 31.

Do Greenwood Medicare Advantage plans include Self Regional? Many do, but not every plan, and networks can change. We confirm your hospital and doctors before recommending a plan.

What if my specialist is in Greenville, Columbia, or Augusta? Then the plan has to include that specialist too. Some Greenwood-area plans cover providers in those cities and some don't. A Medicare Supplement works with any provider that accepts Medicare, wherever they are.

I moved to Lake Greenwood from another state. Do I need a new plan? If you have Medicare Advantage or a Part D plan from your old state, most likely yes. Moving gives you a special enrollment period to pick a South Carolina plan. A Medicare Supplement generally moves with you.

Is Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement the better choice here? If your care is mostly local and your doctors are in network, Medicare Advantage can work well and cost less each month. If you travel for care or want the freedom to see any provider, a supplement may be worth the higher premium.

I retired from Lander or a school district. How does PEBA work with Medicare? PEBA retiree coverage is set up to work with Medicare. Before enrolling in another plan, check what would happen to your PEBA benefits, since leaving may be permanent.

I'm a veteran. Should I keep Medicare if I use the VA? Many veterans do, because the VA and Medicare don't coordinate. Medicare covers care outside the VA, and delaying Part B can mean a lifelong penalty. TRICARE For Life also requires Part B.

I'm still working at 65. Do I need Part B? Not always. Coverage through your own or your spouse's current employer may let you wait without a penalty, depending on employer size. Check before you turn 65.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a supplement in a few years? You can apply, but once your first six months on Part B have passed, supplement companies in South Carolina can review your health and say no. Line up the supplement before you drop your plan.

Do you meet in person in Greenwood? Most of our Lakelands clients meet with us by phone or video, so there's no drive to Columbia. Call us and we'll set a time.

What areas around Greenwood do you serve? Greenwood, Ninety Six, Hodges, Ware Shoals, Abbeville, Saluda, McCormick, Savannah Lakes Village, Laurens, Clinton, and the communities around Lake Greenwood.

More for the Lakelands

• Turning 65 in Greenwood and the Lakelands
• Moving to South Carolina for Retirement: What Happens to Your Medicare
• Medicare Agent in Greenville, SC
• South Carolina Medicare Agents for 2027: Find Your Region

Set up your free review

Call or text 843-509-2462, or visit mauldininsurancegroup.com.

Mauldin Insurance Group serves Greenwood, Ninety Six, Abbeville, Saluda, McCormick, and communities across South Carolina.