Lost Your Job in SC? Your 60-Day Health Insurance Playbook
A step-by-step plan for South Carolina workers who just lost their employer coverage. COBRA math, marketplace SEP deadlines, Medicaid options, and the 60-day window you cannot miss.
Blog
Insurance tips, enrollment guides, and Lowcountry coverage updates.
between-things
self-employed
How Much Does Health Insurance Actually Cost in SC After the Subsidy Cliff?
Real 2026 South Carolina health insurance premiums after the enhanced ACA subsidies expired. BCBS, Ambetter, and Molina rate increases, plus what self-employed SC families are actually paying now that the cliff is real.
family
Back-to-School Sports Physicals, Dental, and Vision: SC Family Checklist
What SC parents need to know about school sports physicals, pediatric dental exams, and vision screenings before the first day of school. What's covered, what's not, and how to schedule it without breaking the bank.
family
Adding Your New Baby to Your SC Health Plan: The 60-Day Rule
A new parent's step-by-step guide to adding a newborn to your South Carolina health insurance plan within the 60-day Special Enrollment Period. What counts, what costs, and what to do if you miss the window.
gap-trapped
Free and Sliding-Scale Health Clinics in the Charleston Lowcountry
A working guide to free, low-cost, and sliding-scale clinics across Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties for SC residents stuck between jobs or between coverage. Real clinic names, real services, real phone numbers.
family
SC Teachers: Your Child Is Turning 26 and Aging Off Your PEBA Plan
If your child turns 26 in July or August, they're about to lose your SC teacher PEBA health coverage. Here's the PEBA timing, marketplace costs, and how to save money across the whole family.
between-things
Leaving TRICARE? A Lowcountry Military Family's Guide to Civilian Health Insurance
Separating from active duty in the Lowcountry? TRICARE ends on your separation date, not end of month. Here's the 60-day marketplace SEP, CHCBP costs, VA options, and what to do first.
small-biz
Boeing Just Hired 1,000 People. Are You Hiring Too? Mid-Year Benefits Audit
Boeing's $1B Charleston expansion means the Lowcountry labor market is tight. If you run a small business in Summerville or Charleston County and you're trying to hire or keep people, here's the mid-year benefits audit every owner needs.
family
Hurricane Season Health Insurance: What Your Plan Covers If You Evacuate
Hurricane season is here. Find out exactly what your SC health insurance covers during an evacuation, from emergency care out of state to prescription refills, telehealth, and surprise billing protections.
self-employed
How to Estimate Your 1099 Income for ACA Subsidies (Without Lying)
A plain-English guide for SC freelancers and consultants on how to project 1099 income for Healthcare.gov without underestimating, overestimating, or getting a nasty surprise at tax time.
family
Just Married in the Lowcountry? How to Combine Your Health Plans
Newly married in SC? You have a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to combine or change your health insurance. Here's exactly how to compare your plans, pick the right one, and avoid costly mistakes.
between-things
Charleston Medical Residents: Bridging the June 30 Coverage Gap
Medical residency ends June 30 but your new job's insurance may not start until August. Here's exactly how Charleston-area residents can avoid a costly 30-45 day gap with a marketplace SEP.
Frequently Asked Questions
New posts publish on a pre-scheduled cadence roughly every two weeks, mapped to seasonal insurance events in South Carolina - Open Enrollment, Medicare AEP, tax season, and special enrollment windows. Each post is written by Michelle, not auto-generated, and updated when rules or plan pricing change.
Every post is written by Michelle Blinco Smith, a licensed South Carolina insurance agent. You will not find syndicated content, AI-generated filler, or ghostwritten articles here. Each post reflects real conversations with real Lowcountry clients and is reviewed for accuracy before publishing.
Yes - and I love getting these. If there is an insurance question you could not find a clear answer to, send it to me through the contact form or the newsletter. I often turn common client questions into full blog posts so everyone benefits from the answer.
Most are. I focus on the rules, plans, carriers, and enrollment dates that apply to South Carolina residents - especially in the Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley county area. Federal-level topics like ACA subsidies or Medicare rules are covered with SC-specific context and examples.
Subscribe to the monthly newsletter. I include a roundup of the newest posts, upcoming enrollment deadlines, and the things I learned from client conversations that month. One email a month, no spam, one-click unsubscribe anytime.