Compare 686 physician assistants in Charleston, SC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
686
Physician Assistants
100%
Accepting patients
75%
Most common: PA-C
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Charleston is a healthcare city built around MUSC, the oldest medical school in the South and the state's only comprehensive academic medical center. Roper St. Francis provides the community hospital alternative, while Trident Medical Center handles the growing North Charleston and Summerville populations. MUSC's research engine and the city's biomedical startup ecosystem have made Charleston an increasingly serious player in health innovation.
Charleston has 686 physician assistants. The most common credential is PA-C (75%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Downtown Charleston (South of Broad), Mount Pleasant (nearby), West Ashley, and King Street.
MUSC's campus sits on the peninsula in downtown Charleston, just north of Calhoun Street. Roper Hospital is also on the peninsula, while Bon Secours St. Francis and Trident Medical Center serve West Ashley, North Charleston, and the surrounding suburbs. Mount Pleasant, across the Cooper River, has its own cluster of outpatient practices and an MUSC satellite. The Ravenel Bridge connects the peninsula to Mount Pleasant, but rush-hour traffic makes that crossing unpredictable.
Nearby hospitals include MUSC Health University Medical Center, Roper St. Francis Hospital, and Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital. Local training programs run through Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and College of Charleston. MUSC is South Carolina's only comprehensive academic medical center and Level I trauma center.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina dominates the commercial market. South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid, so coverage gaps are wider here than in many states. For marketplace plans, BCBS, Ambetter, and Molina are the primary options. MUSC accepts most major insurance plans and serves as the region's largest Medicaid provider. 58% accept Medicare.
A PA visit follows the same format as a physician visit: health history, physical exam, diagnosis, and treatment plan. PAs can order labs, imaging, and referrals. They prescribe medications in all 50 states. Appointments typically last 15 to 30 minutes. PAs consult with the supervising physician for complex or unusual cases. In surgical practices, the PA may see you for pre-op and post-op visits while the surgeon performs the procedure.
MUSC primary care clinics can have wait times of two to three weeks for new patients. Roper St. Francis Physician Partners tends to schedule faster for routine care. Always call ahead to confirm insurance acceptance.
You might see a PA in virtually any medical setting: primary care, urgent care, the emergency department, a surgical practice, or a specialty clinic. PAs handle routine visits, sick appointments, chronic disease management, pre-operative evaluations, minor procedures (suturing, joint injections, biopsies), and post-surgical follow-ups. In surgical specialties, PAs often perform the initial consultation and assist during surgery. If you are seen in an urgent care clinic or ER, there is a good chance your provider will be a PA.
Office visit copay: $20-50 · Urgent care visit: $30-75 copay · Procedure (biopsy, injection): covered at specialist rate · ER visit with PA: same as physician ER copay
Charleston, SC has 686 licensed physician assistants. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of physician assistants in Charleston, SC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina is the largest carrier in the state. Medicaid in South Carolina has not been expanded, so the uninsured rate is higher than the national average. MUSC operates as the primary safety-net provider for the region. For marketplace plans, BCBS, Ambetter (Centene), and Molina are the main options.
An office visit copay is $20 to $50. An urgent care visit copay is $30 to $75. Procedures (biopsy, injection) are covered at the specialist rate. An ER visit with a PA has the same copay as a physician ER visit. Actual costs in Charleston, SC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. PA visits cost the same as physician visits from a patient perspective. If your surgeon's PA handles your pre-op and post-op visits, the copay is the same as if the surgeon saw you.
MUSC is the default for subspecialty and complex care, but Roper St. Francis offers a strong alternative for primary care and common procedures. North Charleston and Summerville residents often use Trident Medical Center to avoid peninsula traffic. Mount Pleasant has a growing number of satellite clinics from both MUSC and Roper.
58% of physician assistants in Charleston, SC accept Medicare. Medicare reimburses PA services at 85% of the physician fee schedule. Your copay is the same as for a physician visit. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some physician assistants in Charleston, SC accept Healthy Connections, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers PA visits in all states. Copays and coverage levels are the same as for physician visits. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Healthy Connections participation before scheduling.
Yes. MUSC accepts both self-referrals and physician referrals for most departments. Some subspecialty clinics prefer a referral, but primary care, urgent care, and many specialty clinics allow direct scheduling.
Mount Pleasant has a growing number of outpatient practices, including MUSC and Roper satellite clinics, urgent care centers, and independent specialist offices. For inpatient care and complex procedures, you will likely need to cross the bridge to the peninsula.
Top accepted carriers in Charleston, SC include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-73107, qhp-26065, and molina.
All insurance plans cover PA visits at the same copay level as physician visits. Medicare reimburses PA services at 85% of the physician fee schedule, but your copay is based on the allowed amount and remains the same. PAs are listed in insurance provider directories. PA-performed procedures (suturing, biopsies, joint injections) are covered the same as when performed by a physician.