Marketplace help for the Midlands
Affordable Health Insurance in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is a capital city and a college town at the same time. Around the State House and the university you will find contractors, part-time staff, graduate students finishing up, and young adults about to lose a parent's plan. Estagacy Insurance Group is licensed in South Carolina and helps people across Richland and Lexington counties compare HealthCare.gov plans at no cost.
Our licensed agents work from our office in Orlando, Florida and meet Columbia residents by phone or video. You may qualify for financial help based on your income, and the quick eligibility check above is the easiest place to begin.
How we help Columbia residents
Guidance for first-time buyers
If you have always been on a parent's plan or a school plan, choosing coverage on your own can feel unfamiliar. We explain premiums, deductibles and copays in plain words and help you pick a plan that fits your budget.
Remote, but personal
Our office is in Orlando, not Columbia. You talk with the same licensed agent by phone or video, and we can share a screen to fill out the application together.
Networks around the Midlands
We check whether the doctors and hospitals you use in Columbia, Lexington or Irmo are in each plan's network before you compare prices.
Help with contract and seasonal pay
University and government contract work often follows the academic or fiscal calendar. We help you estimate yearly income so your financial help stays accurate.
Who we help
State and university area workers
Adjunct instructors, research staff, contractors and part-time employees without full benefits may qualify for financial help based on your income.
Young adults turning 26
Aging off a parent's plan is a qualifying event, so you can enroll in your own coverage without waiting for Open Enrollment.
Small business owners
Owners of restaurants, shops and service businesses near Five Points and the Vista can cover themselves and their families.
Families and people between jobs
Parents covering children and workers who lost job-based coverage can compare plans with a licensed agent.
Key 2027 dates
South Carolina uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Columbia residents follow the same calendar as the rest of the state:
- Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1 to December 15, 2026.
- Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
- Outside Open Enrollment you need a Special Enrollment Period (moving, losing coverage, marriage, a baby).
- Medicaid and CHIP can be applied for any time.
Turning 26 soon? Contact us a few weeks before your birthday so your own plan can begin as your parent's coverage ends.
Columbia health insurance FAQ
See all South Carolina health insurance help. Learn more on our coverage benefits page or read the full health insurance FAQ.
Get free help in Columbia today
Check your eligibility above, call us, or book a phone or video appointment. A licensed agent will make choosing your Columbia plan simple.