Hospice Care in Charleston and the Lowcountry
Charleston is the oldest and one of the fastest-growing cities in South Carolina, anchoring the Lowcountry tri-county metro area of Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. The Charleston metro is home to more than 800,000 residents — a population that has grown rapidly over the past decade driven by retirees, military families, and professionals relocating from across the country. Joint Base Charleston, one of the largest military installations on the East Coast, contributes a significant veteran population to the region. The city's strong retirement appeal means that hospice and palliative care services are in high and growing demand.
BestHospice.com helps Charleston-area families find partner hospice providers by ZIP code, compare services, and connect with local agencies without referral fees or sales pressure.
Charleston's Major Health Systems and Hospice Transitions
MUSC Health — the Medical University of South Carolina — is South Carolina's flagship academic medical center and one of the most important health systems in the Southeast. MUSC Health University Medical Center in downtown Charleston is home to Hollings Cancer Center, an NCI-designated cancer center, and serves as the primary referral center for complex oncology, cardiac, and neurological cases across South Carolina and the surrounding region. MUSC's palliative care program coordinates hospice transitions for patients completing active treatment across the MUSC system.
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is the other major health system in the Charleston metro, operating Roper Hospital in downtown Charleston, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in West Ashley, and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital. Roper St. Francis's palliative care and case management teams coordinate hospice referrals across its network. Trident Health — part of HCA Healthcare — operates Trident Medical Center in North Charleston and Summerville Medical Center, serving the growing Berkeley County and Dorchester County communities. The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston serves the region's substantial veteran population, including active duty families from Joint Base Charleston.
Medicare and SC Healthy Connections Medicaid Coverage in Charleston
Medicare Part A covers hospice for eligible Charleston-area patients with a physician-certified prognosis of six months or less. Covered services include nursing visits, comfort medications, medical equipment, home health aide, social work, chaplain services, and bereavement counseling — most at $0 to the patient or family.
South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid covers hospice for qualifying low-income South Carolina residents. Plans serving the Charleston area include Absolute Total Care (Centene), Molina Healthcare of South Carolina, Simply Healthcare Plans (Anthem), and BlueChoice HealthPlan (Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina). Dual-eligible patients can coordinate Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Medicare Advantage plans from Humana, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield SC are available across the Charleston area — all must cover hospice at Medicare Part A levels.
South Carolina licenses hospice providers through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). All Medicare-certified South Carolina hospice providers meet state licensing requirements as a condition of federal certification.
How to Choose a Hospice Provider in Charleston
- Do they serve your specific community? Charleston City, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, and North Charleston may be served by different agencies. Confirm active service before scheduling intake.
- How quickly can they respond? Especially for hospital discharges from MUSC Health, Roper St. Francis, or Trident Health facilities.
- What is their experience with your loved one's diagnosis? Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC generates significant oncology referrals. Ask about specific disease experience.
- Does the hospice have experience with veterans? Joint Base Charleston and the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center contribute a significant veteran population. Ask whether the provider has VA partnerships or veteran-specific hospice experience.
- Do they have an inpatient arrangement? Confirm where inpatient care would occur if symptoms escalate beyond what can be managed at home.
Frequently Asked Questions — Hospice Care in Charleston
How do I find hospice care in Charleston, SC?
Enter your ZIP code on BestHospice.com to find partner hospice providers serving your Charleston neighborhood or surrounding community. Free, instant, no referral fees.
Does Medicare cover hospice in Charleston?
Yes. Medicare Part A covers most hospice services at little to no cost for eligible patients. See exactly what Medicare covers →
Does SC Healthy Connections Medicaid cover hospice in Charleston?
Yes. SC Healthy Connections plans (Absolute Total Care, Molina Healthcare, Simply Healthcare, BlueChoice HealthPlan) cover hospice for qualifying low-income Charleston-area residents.
When is it time for hospice?
Hospice is appropriate when a physician certifies a prognosis of six months or less and the focus shifts to comfort. Signs it may be time for hospice →
Find hospice providers in Charleston
Search partner hospice providers in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, and across the Lowcountry. Free for families, no referral fees.
Find Charleston Providers