The Grand Strand keeps drawing retirees from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and just about everywhere else. Many of them show up with a Medicare plan that was built for the town they left. That plan rarely works the way they expect here, and it's one of the most common problems we fix on the coast.

Mauldin Insurance Group is an independent Medicare agency based in Lexington, SC. We help people in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Surfside, Murrells Inlet, and the rest of Horry County compare plans from multiple carriers by phone or video. It costs you nothing.

Annual Enrollment closes December 7

You have from October 15 through December 7, 2026, to choose a plan for next year, and coverage begins January 1, 2027. If you moved here this year, don't assume Annual Enrollment is your only chance. A move usually opens its own window, and some newcomers are already past it without knowing.

What's different about Medicare on the Grand Strand

Most people here came from somewhere else. A Medicare Advantage or Part D plan from another state generally doesn't cover you in Horry County. Moving gives you a special enrollment period to pick a new plan, but it has a deadline. A Medicare Supplement usually comes with you, priced at South Carolina rates. Read what happens to your Medicare when you move to South Carolina.

Several hospital systems spread along the coast. Grand Strand Medical Center, Conway Medical Center, McLeod Health, and Tidelands Health all serve the area. Where you live on the Strand often decides which one is closest, and Medicare Advantage networks don't always include all of them.

Snowbirds and part-timers. If you spend part of the year up north or travel to see family, a plan built around local doctors can leave you paying full price for routine care while you're gone. That's a strong reason to look at a Medicare Supplement or a plan with travel coverage.

Storm season is part of the plan decision. Evacuating inland can mean getting care far from your network. During declared disasters, Medicare Advantage plans relax some rules, but it's better to know your options before a storm than during one.

Why we compare more than one company

Carrier phone lines and single-company agents can only offer what that company sells. Since we work with several carriers, we can put Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D plans next to each other and show you how they stack up for your doctors and drugs. You'll pay the same premium you'd pay enrolling on your own.

How we help Grand Strand residents

→ Replacing an out-of-state plan after a move, before the window closes

→ Checking which coastal hospitals and doctors each plan includes

→ Finding coverage that works when you're away for part of the year

→ Comparing what your prescriptions will cost at a local pharmacy

→ Seeing whether TRICARE For Life, VA, or retiree benefits change your choices

Four mistakes we see on the coast

1. Keeping a plan from your old state. If it's a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, it likely won't work here, and the clock on your special enrollment period started when you moved.

2. Choosing an HMO while living half the year elsewhere. Routine care out of the area may not be covered at all.

3. Not checking which hospital is in network. The closest hospital to your house isn't automatically covered.

4. Skipping a supplement when you first got Medicare. South Carolina supplement companies only have to accept you regardless of health during your first six months on Part B. If you just left an out-of-state Medicare Advantage plan by moving, ask us whether a short guaranteed issue window applies to you.

What a call with us looks like

We'll ask where you moved from, which doctors you see now, what medications you take, and how much time you spend away from the Strand. Then we'll walk you through the 2027 plans that fit and what each one would cost you. It's all by phone or video, at a pace that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions: Medicare in Myrtle Beach, SC

How does an independent Medicare agent in Myrtle Beach help? We compare plans from several carriers that serve Horry County, check them against your doctors and prescriptions, and take care of the enrollment. We're also the people you call later about claims, network changes, and your annual review.

What does it cost me to use you? Nothing. Agents are paid by the insurance companies, and your premium doesn't go up because you used one.

When is the 2027 Annual Enrollment Period? October 15 through December 7, 2026, with new coverage starting January 1, 2027. Medicare Advantage members also get one change from January 1 through March 31.

I just moved to Myrtle Beach. Do I need a new Medicare plan? If you have Medicare Advantage or a standalone Part D plan from another state, almost certainly. Your move opens a special enrollment period to choose a South Carolina plan. If you have a Medicare Supplement, it generally moves with you.

Will my Medicare Supplement premium change after moving here? Usually. Supplement prices depend on where you live, so you'll be charged South Carolina rates. Depending on where you came from, your premium could go up or down.

Which hospitals do Myrtle Beach Medicare Advantage plans include? It varies. Some plans include Grand Strand Medical Center, Conway Medical Center, McLeod Health, and Tidelands Health, and others leave one or more out. We check the ones you'd actually use.

I'm a snowbird. What kind of Medicare plan should I have? Many snowbirds do best with Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement, which works with any provider that accepts Medicare nationwide. Some Medicare Advantage PPO plans also cover care outside the area. We'll compare both for your schedule.

What happens to my coverage if I evacuate for a hurricane? Original Medicare and supplements work anywhere in the country. Medicare Advantage plans must loosen some network rules during declared disasters, but the details vary by plan, so it's worth checking before storm season.

I'm a veteran or military retiree. How does Medicare fit in? TRICARE For Life requires you to keep Part A and Part B. VA care and Medicare don't coordinate, so many veterans keep Medicare for care outside the VA.

I'm still working at 65. Do I need Medicare right away? Maybe not. Coverage through your own or your spouse's current employer may let you put off Part B without a penalty. The rules depend on employer size, so check before you turn 65.

Can I switch to a Medicare Supplement later if I don't like my Advantage plan? You can apply, but outside your first six months on Part B and a few special situations, South Carolina insurers can turn you down for health reasons. Make sure the supplement is approved before you leave your current plan.

Do you meet clients in person in Myrtle Beach? We help most Grand Strand clients by phone or video, which makes it easy to look at plans together on screen. Give us a call to set a time.

What areas along the Grand Strand do you serve? Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Garden City, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Conway, and the rest of Horry and Georgetown counties.

More for the Grand Strand

• Turning 65 on the Grand Strand
• I Just Moved to South Carolina. Do I Need to Change My Medicare Plan?
• Your Medigap Rate Went Up Again: How to Switch Plans in SC
• South Carolina Medicare Agents for 2027: Find Your Region

Start your 2027 review

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

Mauldin Insurance Group serves Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, and communities across South Carolina.