ACA plans available
48
Plan year
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
Pickens, South Carolina Health Insurance
Open-data reference.
48 ACA plans from 3 issuers — Plan year 2026
Pickens, South Carolina offers 48 ACA marketplace plans from 3 issuers for plan year 2026. Bronze plans start at $323/mo and Silver plans start at $479/mo (age 27, before subsidies). Use the tables below to compare premiums, deductibles, and issuers across all metal tiers.
$540
Avg Silver Premium/mo
$480
Benchmark Premium/mo
+29.9%
Year-over-Year Change
$5,576
Avg Deductible
What the Numbers Say About Pickens
Pickens, South Carolina has 48 ACA marketplace plans offered by 3 issuers for plan year 2026. The average Silver-tier premium comes in at $540/mo for a 27-year-old non-tobacco user, with the lowest Silver at $479 and the highest at $629. Bronze plans start at $323/mo — useful for healthy enrollees who want catastrophic protection with the lowest monthly outlay.
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium is $480/mo, the figure the IRS uses to calculate your Advance Premium Tax Credit. Enrollees whose expected income-based contribution falls below this amount receive a subsidy for the difference. Across all plans, the average annual deductible is $5,576 and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,857 — numbers that matter more than the sticker premium once you actually use care. Year-over-year, average premiums in Pickens shifted by +29.9%, a signal of how local issuer pricing and risk-pool dynamics are trending.
Issuer count is one of the strongest predictors of affordability: with 3 issuers active in Pickens, consumers have some competitive choice, though narrower than the most competitive counties. This page is informational only and is not insurance, medical, or tax advice — verify your eligibility, network coverage, and final pricing at HealthCare.gov before enrolling. Source: CMS Marketplace PUF, plan year 2026.
Premiums by Metal Level
Bronze
2 plans$368/mo avg
$323 — $413
Silver
18 plans$540/mo avg
$479 — $629
Gold
12 plans$583/mo avg
$503 — $635
Benchmark Premium & Subsidies
The benchmark premium (2nd-lowest Silver plan) in Pickens is $480/mo for a 27-year-old. This is the amount used to calculate your premium tax credit. If your expected contribution (based on income) is less than the benchmark, you receive a subsidy for the difference. The higher the benchmark, the larger the potential subsidy.
Issuers in market
3
Some competition
Benchmark Silver
$480 /mo
Sets your subsidy ceiling
Avg deductible
$5,576
Across all metal tiers
Pickens ACA plans by premium and deductible
Each marker is the Pickens average for one metal tier (and the local Bronze low / Silver high extremes where data is available). The dashed line marks the federal out-of-pocket-maximum ceiling.
Source: CMS Marketplace PUF for Pickens, plan year 2026. Bronze = catastrophic-only zone (high deductible). Gold/Platinum = premium-heavy zone (low deductible).
Issuers in Pickens
| Issuer | Plans | Avg Premium (Age 27) |
|---|---|---|
| BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | 31 | $501/mo |
| Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | 9 | $487/mo |
| First Choice Next | 8 | $518/mo |
All Plans in Pickens
| Plan Name | Metal | Type | Premium (27) | Premium (40) | Deductible | OOP Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Reedy Bronze 2 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Bronze | HMO | $323.49 | $394.49 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| First Choice Next Bronze Essential First Choice Next | Bronze | HMO | $412.68 | $503.24 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
| Blue Reedy Standard Expanded Bronze BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $336.28 | $410.09 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Blue Reedy Bronze 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $338.73 | $413.06 | $7,900 | $9,500 |
| Blue VirtuConnect Bronze 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $371.05 | $452.48 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| BlueEssentials Standard Expanded Bronze BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $377.96 | $460.91 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| BlueEssentials Bronze 4 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $378.09 | $461.06 | $7,200 | $10,000 |
| BlueExtend PPO Standard Expanded Bronze BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $406.27 | $495.43 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| BlueExtend PPO HD Bronze 2 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $414.09 | $504.97 | $8,300 | $8,300 |
| Everyday Bronze Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $414.57 | $505.56 | $8,450 | $10,150 |
| Standard Expanded Bronze Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $415.78 | $507.04 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| BlueExtend PPO HD Bronze 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | PPO | $425.62 | $519.03 | $7,300 | $7,300 |
| Everyday Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $428.26 | $522.25 | $8,450 | $10,150 |
| First Choice Next Bronze Signature First Choice Next | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $444.55 | $542.12 | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| BlueEssentials Bronze 6 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Expanded Bronze | EPO | $445.06 | $542.73 | $0 | $10,600 |
| First Choice Next Bronze Premier First Choice Next | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $448.21 | $546.57 | $3,850 | $10,600 |
| Elite Bronze Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $472.96 | $576.76 | $0 | $10,500 |
| Elite Bronze + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Expanded Bronze | HMO | $488.57 | $595.80 | $0 | $10,500 |
| Blue Reedy Silver 2 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | HMO | $478.75 | $583.81 | $7,900 | $8,800 |
| Blue Reedy Silver 2 + Adult Vision BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | HMO | $480.14 | $585.51 | $7,900 | $8,800 |
| Blue Reedy Silver 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | HMO | $481.88 | $587.64 | $7,000 | $10,500 |
| Blue Reedy Standard Silver BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | HMO | $489.47 | $596.89 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Standard Silver Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Silver | HMO | $528.69 | $644.72 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Focused Silver Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Silver | HMO | $534.51 | $651.81 | $6,300 | $8,400 |
| First Choice Next Silver Signature First Choice Next | Silver | HMO | $535.10 | $652.54 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| First Choice Next Silver Essential First Choice Next | Silver | HMO | $537.51 | $655.48 | $6,100 | $9,000 |
| BlueEssentials Silver 14 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | EPO | $539.18 | $657.51 | $7,400 | $9,700 |
| First Choice Next Silver Premier First Choice Next | Silver | HMO | $539.20 | $657.54 | $400 | $10,200 |
| BlueEssentials Silver 14 + Adult Vision BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | EPO | $540.59 | $659.23 | $7,400 | $9,700 |
| Blue VirtuConnect Silver 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | EPO | $541.59 | $660.46 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| Standard Silver + Vision + Adult Dental Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Silver | HMO | $546.14 | $666.00 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| BlueEssentials Silver 40 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | EPO | $551.50 | $672.54 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| BlueEssentials Standard Silver BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | EPO | $551.97 | $673.11 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| BlueExtend PPO Standard Silver BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | PPO | $594.21 | $724.62 | $6,000 | $8,900 |
| BlueExtend PPO HD Silver 2 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | PPO | $615.34 | $750.38 | $5,990 | $5,990 |
| BlueExtend PPO HD Silver 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Silver | PPO | $629.16 | $767.23 | $5,300 | $5,300 |
| Blue Reedy Gold 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | HMO | $502.68 | $613.01 | $250 | $8,900 |
| Blue Reedy Standard Gold BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | HMO | $522.23 | $636.84 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| Standard Gold Ambetter from Absolute Total Care | Gold | HMO | $552.68 | $673.97 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| BlueEssentials Gold 5 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | EPO | $558.94 | $681.60 | $250 | $9,200 |
| Blue VirtuConnect Gold 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | EPO | $578.06 | $704.93 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| BlueEssentials Gold 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | EPO | $586.89 | $715.69 | $2,700 | $5,400 |
| BlueEssentials Standard Gold BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | EPO | $589.20 | $718.51 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| First Choice Next Gold Signature First Choice Next | Gold | HMO | $604.09 | $736.67 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| BlueExtend PPO HD Gold 2 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | PPO | $616.91 | $752.30 | $4,150 | $4,150 |
| First Choice Next Gold Premier First Choice Next | Gold | HMO | $620.31 | $756.45 | $850 | $8,500 |
| BlueExtend PPO Standard Gold BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | PPO | $634.40 | $773.63 | $2,000 | $8,200 |
| BlueExtend PPO HD Gold 1 BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina | Gold | PPO | $634.84 | $774.16 | $3,400 | $3,400 |
Silver Premium Trend (2022-2026)
| Year | Avg Premium | Min | Max | Plans | Issuers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $479/mo | $409 | $537 | 26 | 3 |
| 2023 | $468/mo | $439 | $513 | 20 | 3 |
| 2024 | $469/mo | $423 | $523 | 25 | 4 |
| 2025 | $446/mo | $408 | $534 | 24 | 4 |
| 2026 | $540/mo | $479 | $629 | 18 | 3 |
Health Insurance Guides
Choosing a Metal Level
Bronze vs Silver vs Gold vs Platinum — which tier fits your needs and budget
Understanding ACA Subsidies
How premium tax credits work and how to estimate your subsidy amount
Related Health & Cost Data
Find Doctors
PlainDoctor — Healthcare providers in South Carolina
Hospital Quality Ratings
PlainHospital — CMS star ratings and safety scores
Medicare Plans
PlainMedicare — Medicare Advantage and Part D data
Community Health Data
PlainHealth — CDC community health indicators
Health Access Metrics
PlainHealthAccess — Uninsured rates and provider shortages
Cost of Living
PlainCost — BEA regional price parities
Homeowners Insurance
PlainInsure — Treasury FIO premiums
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ACA plans are available in Pickens, SC?
There are 48 ACA marketplace plans available in Pickens from 3 insurance issuers for plan year 2026.
What is the cheapest health insurance plan in Pickens?
The lowest-premium plan in Pickens starts at $323/mo (Bronze tier, age 27). Silver plans start at $479/mo. Actual premiums vary by age and may be reduced by premium tax credits.
What is the benchmark premium for Pickens?
The benchmark (second-lowest Silver) premium in Pickens is $480/mo for a 27-year-old. This amount determines how much premium tax credit subsidy you may be eligible for.
How have premiums changed in Pickens?
Average premiums in Pickens changed by +29.9% year-over-year. Premium trends are tracked from 2022 to 2026 across all metal levels.
What is the average deductible and out-of-pocket maximum in Pickens?
The average annual deductible across all plans in Pickens is $5,576, and the average out-of-pocket maximum is $8,857. Bronze plans generally have higher deductibles but lower premiums, while Gold and Platinum plans have lower deductibles but higher monthly costs.
Which insurance companies offer plans in Pickens?
There are 3 insurance issuers offering ACA marketplace plans in Pickens, including BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Ambetter from Absolute Total Care, First Choice Next. Competition among issuers affects plan variety and pricing. More issuers generally mean more choices and potentially lower premiums.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute insurance or financial advice. Premiums shown are for a 27-year-old non-tobacco user unless otherwise noted. Your actual premium depends on age, location, tobacco use, and subsidy eligibility. Visit HealthCare.gov for official enrollment. Source: CMS Marketplace PUF, PY2026.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHealthPlan Editorial
