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South Carolina

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on August 4, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in South Carolina, we recommend that you visit the Governor's Executive Orders, the Department of Commerce website or the Department of Health and Environment Control's COVID-19 resources.

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Description of Program and Relief

State Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage

Through the already-existing State Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage program (also known as mini-COBRASC), South Carolina residents and the dependents of South Carolina residents that become unemployed due to the effects of COVID-19 and as a result lose insurance coverage may continue under their former employer’s health insurance coverage for up to 6 months, if the employer has less than 20 employees and certain other requirements are met. The employee is responsible for paying the full premium for insurance coverage.

(Employees of employers with more than 20 employees may be eligible for federal COBRA programs.)

Government or Lead Agency

South Carolina Department of Insurance

Dates Available

Effective immediately

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Eligibility requirements can be found here:

https://doi.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11352/State-Continuation-of-Health-Insurance-Coverage

One must be a South Carolina resident recently employed by an employer with less than 20 employees and an active group policy. The former employee must have been insured under the employer’s group policy for at least 6 months and must not have lost coverage due to failure to pay premiums.

The full premium for the insurance coverage must be paid in order for the continuation of coverage, and continuation of coverage applies only if the former employer’s group policy (or a successor policy) remains in effect. In other words, if a resident has lost employment due to the closure or shutdown of the former employer, this continuation of coverage is not available.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

Employees should be advised by their former employer of the employee’s eligibility for mini-COBRASC. Employees must notify their employers that they wish to accept the continuation of health insurance under mini-COBRASC. There is no premium payment grace period, and employees must pay the full premium on time, including the portion previously paid by their former employers (if any).

Contact for More Information

Contact the South Carolina Department of Insurance’s Office of Consumer Services at consumers@doi.sc.gov, or call (803) 737-6180 or 1 (800) 768-3467 between 8 AM and 6 PM Monday through Thursday or 8 AM and 5 PM Friday for more information.

List of Additional Information

https://www.doi.sc.gov/701/Rights-as-a-Health-Insurance-Consumer

https://doi.sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11352/State-Continuation-of-Health-Insurance-Coverage


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