SC| South Carolina Department of Insurance Bulletin (2025-10) addresses reported unfair trade practices by insurers and producers related to the marketing of Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement plans in South Carolina. The Department emphasizes the prohibition of market conduct that restricts consumer access or manipulates producer behavior to the disadvantage of state residents.
Main Points:
- Insurers cannot restrict access to approved Medicare plans by withholding enrollment materials, reducing producer compensation mid-term, or creating other artificial barriers.
- South Carolina law requires that any approved and available Medicare product be accessible through customary channels, with proper compensation for producers as outlined in approved filings.
- The Department will monitor for compliance and enforce penalties for violations, highlighting that insurers may only lawfully withdraw products via established procedures, not by subverting consumer or producer access.