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Senior Medicare Advantage plan insurance in Myrtle Beach, SC
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Myrtle Beach or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
- Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
- What is Medicare?
- The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including
- Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Myrtle Beach
- Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
- Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Myrtle Beach, SC
- How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
- Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
- Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
- The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Myrtle Beach
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Myrtle Beach is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Myrtle Beach, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in Myrtle Beach. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Latest News Near Me Myrtle Beach, SC
The 2025 hurricane season for Myrtle Beach, SC has arrived. Here’s how bad it could get
Maria Elena Scotthttps://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article308057295.html
The Atlantic is facing another above-normal hurricane season in 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts, and the Grand Strand could see storms, flooding and more.The hurricane season, which started June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30, could bring up to 19 named storms and five major hurricanes, according to NOAA’s 2025 outlook.“The outlook certainly does in...
The Atlantic is facing another above-normal hurricane season in 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts, and the Grand Strand could see storms, flooding and more.
The hurricane season, which started June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30, could bring up to 19 named storms and five major hurricanes, according to NOAA’s 2025 outlook.
“The outlook certainly does include higher-than-normal chances of storms for this year, and that’s mainly keyed on the fact that the water temperatures across the Atlantic are warmer than normal across most of the oceans,” said meteorologist Tim Armstrong with the National Weather Service’s Wilmington Office. “Heat, of course, being the fuel for those storms, so with more heat, there’s the potential for more storms and stronger storms, if they do develop.”
Early in the Atlantic hurricane season, scientists look at general impacts to the Caribbean, Gulf and East Coast, but can’t predict specific storm paths. Here’s what experts know about the Grand Strand’s 2025 hurricane season so far.
NOAA calls for a 60% chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. For the Grand Strand, an above-normal season could be similar to other hurricane seasons in recent years.
“We’ve had multiple years in a row now where the number of storms we’ve seen across the Atlantic Ocean has been higher than normal,” Armstrong said. “It really kind of started back in the late 1990s, when we started noticing an uptick in the number of storms relative to what had been observed in the decades past, and we’re still in that active period now.”
With 70% confidence, NOAA predicts 13 to 19 named storms will develop, which are characterized by winds of at least 29 mph. Six to 10 of those named storms are predicted to develop into hurricanes, which have winds of 74 mph or higher. According to NOAA, three to five could become major hurricanes — category 3, 4 or 5 — with winds of 111 mph or higher.
An average year has about 14 tropical storms, seven of which become hurricanes. The record for most actual named storms in a season is 30, which was set in 2020. For comparison, last year’s Atlantic hurricane season brought 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes. In 2024, both Debby and Helene lashed the Grand Strand with heavy rain and strong winds.
Although the area was spared the worst of the storms’ devastation, secondary impacts hit Myrtle Beach hard.
“Going back to 2018, we’ve had a number of, if not direct impacts, peripheral impacts from storms every year,” Armstrong said. “So this may be similar to what we have seen over the past five or six years, where we’ll have a tropical storm or hurricane warning at some point during the season along the coast for a storm that either passes directly overhead or very, very close by.”
While it’s too early to say what paths future hurricanes will take, storm paths that miss the Grand Strand can still devastate the area with tornadoes and floods, which could be worsening.
“Even a peripheral impact of these storms can bring devastation in some way to our area. It doesn’t have to be a direct impact,” Armstrong said. “Last year with Hurricane Helene went from the Gulf Coast through the western Carolinas, but even out here at the coast, we had bands of heavy rain and tornadoes from that, even though the storm center itself stayed hundreds of miles west of us.”
Hurricane veterans may notice rainfall and flooding seem more severe than they once did. Matthew and Florence drenched the Carolinas and in 2024, Debby dumped more than 20 inches of rain across the Waccamaw River Basin. That could be connected to climatological changes.
“Over the past several decades, rainfall rates with hurricanes seem to be increasing, and that’s likely tied to climate change that is continuing every year as we go on,” Armstrong said. “The climate is getting warmer, and a warmer atmosphere can hold additional water … a hurricane developing in a warmer atmosphere can actually produce heavier rainfall.”
Beyond hurricane winds, that heavy rainfall contributes to flooding risks in the Myrtle Beach area, particularly around Conway. Over the past decade, when hurricanes and other named storms dumped excess water into the Waccamaw River, it’s created “tremendous issues with flooding.”
Hurricane season is here and for those who don’t have a storm plan, it’s essential to be prepared. According to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), the Palmetto State is among the most vulnerable states for hurricanes and tropical storms.
“This is the time to begin preparedness, now,” Armstrong said, “so that when the storm does happen, perhaps later in August and September, you’ve already got a plan in place to protect yourself and your family.”
Establishing multiple ways of receiving emergency alerts–like wireless mobile alerts, NOAA weather radios and local broadcast TV and radio–is essential for staying informed. SCEMD offers emergency alerts through text, call and mail through its CodeRED program.
Armstrong recommends identifying your home’s elevation, flooding risk and evacuation zone, which state and local authorities use to announce evacuations.
Coastal areas in Horry and Georgetown counties are in Evacuation Zones A, B or C. Residents can find their zone on the South Carolina Hurricane Guide website or the SC Emergency Manager mobile app.
Although storm conditions can change planned evacuation zones, it’s a good idea to learn local predetermined routes. Those are also available on the South Carolina Hurricane Guide.
And for those who live with others, the Centers for Disease Control recommends creating a family emergency plan, with meeting locations and evacuation destinations.
“We are in an area that does see hurricane impacts, and it’s time now to start thinking about what you would do should a hurricane start to approach the Myrtle Beach area later this season,” Armstrong said.
Two people were hospitalized after a shooting, SC cops say. Now one is in jail
Noah Feithttps://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/state/south-carolina/article308307230.html
Two people were taken to an area hospital Monday night following a violent incident, and now one of them is in jail, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.At about 9 p.m., deputies responded to multiple calls reporting gunshots in the ...
Two people were taken to an area hospital Monday night following a violent incident, and now one of them is in jail, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 9 p.m., deputies responded to multiple calls reporting gunshots in the Wessex Drive area, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday in a news release. That’s in the Wedgefield area of Sumter County.
Deputies found a victim who had been assaulted and suffered injuries before being taken by EMS to Prisma Health Tuomey hospital, according to the release. Further information on the victim’s condition was not available.
Witnesses said 43-year-old Wedgefield resident Chancy Green came to the Wessex Drive home, where he fired shots and assaulted the victim with a firearm, the sheriff’s office said.
Witnesses also said that a fight between Green and the victim ensued, according to the release.
Information about a motive for the violent attack was not available.
Green, who also lives on Wessex Drive, was taken into custody and transported to the same hospital where the victim was being treated, the sheriff’s office said. After Green’s injures were treated and he was released by hospital officials, he was arrested Monday night and then taken to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center, according to the release.
Green was charged with assault & battery of a high and aggravated nature and he remains locked up while awaiting a bond hearing, the sheriff’s office said.
Green is scheduled to return to court on July 11, Sumter County judicial records show.
Despite Green’s arrest, the attack continues to be investigated, according to the release.
No other injuries were reported.
IHG's voco opens 100 hotels in 7 years
Esther Hertzfeldhttps://www.hotelmanagement.net/openings/ihgs-voco-opens-100-hotels-7-years
IHG Hotels & Resorts opens its 100th hotel for its voco brand within seven years. Launched in 2018, voco has become the fastest growing brand within IHG’s Premium collection, having achieved record development activity levels across openings and signings in 2024, with properties in over 25 countries and further market entries in Türkiye, Malaysia and Aruba set for the next two years, according to the company.In 2023, the brand had 100 open & pipeline hotels and since then has almost doubled both its system and pipel...
IHG Hotels & Resorts opens its 100th hotel for its voco brand within seven years. Launched in 2018, voco has become the fastest growing brand within IHG’s Premium collection, having achieved record development activity levels across openings and signings in 2024, with properties in over 25 countries and further market entries in Türkiye, Malaysia and Aruba set for the next two years, according to the company.
In 2023, the brand had 100 open & pipeline hotels and since then has almost doubled both its system and pipeline, reflecting the strength of IHG’s enterprise platform and in line with its strategy to accelerate IHG’s ability to capture conversion opportunities. voco now has 100 hotels open across 25 countries with a further 95 properties in the pipeline.
“We are so proud to have opened 100 voco hotels in less than seven years. The brand has grown faster, pushed further and continues to exceed expectations every year,” Ginger Taggart, VP, Global Crowne Plaza and voco hotels at IHG Hotels & Resorts, said in a statement. "We’re now open in more than 25 countries, from the UK to Australia, Singapore and the US, and as we continue to redefine premium hospitality, voco has proven its success to our owners and our guests. We see our owners around the world benefit from fast access to our enterprise platform and from IHG’s high levels of guest satisfaction globally. With a pipeline of 95 hotels, we are on track to achieve our initial goal of 200 voco hotels around the world within 10 years of launch. A huge thank you to our colleagues, owners and partners for supporting voco’s growth and success.”
Recent milestones for the brand include the voco The Shelby | Myrtle Beach, S.C. Bringing retro beach vibes and modern elegance to South Carolina’s coast, voco The Shelby – Myrtle Beach will soon debut as the first voco hotel in the state and the brand’s first-ever beachfront property in the U.S. This 241-room retreat has private balconies, ocean views and décor inspired by the spirit of Myrtle Beach. The property is minutes from top attractions like the Boardwalk, SkyWheel, and Broadway at the Beach.
Play ball! The Pelicans are staying in Myrtle Beach as the city agrees to upgrade the ballpark
From Staff Reportshttps://www.postandcourier.com/myrtle-beach/news/myrtle-beach-pelicans-lease-stadium-sc/article_b7e9fb49-1496-4397-a01f-add950516eac.html
City Council on June 10 approved a new 30-year lease for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and agreed to accept sole ownership of the stadium where the minor league team has played since 1999."Letting the Pelicans go would be a huge mi...
City Council on June 10 approved a new 30-year lease for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and agreed to accept sole ownership of the stadium where the minor league team has played since 1999.
"Letting the Pelicans go would be a huge mistake," City Councilman Gregg Smith said. "The Pelicans are here. Yes, it costs money to keep them here, but the benefits we get from having the team here far outweigh — far outweigh — the costs."
A last-minute deal was reached after team owner Chuck Greenberg offered to increase the team's rent by an additional $100,000 per year for the first 10 years of the lease.
"I cannot let this team die in Myrtle Beach," Greenberg said.
The agreement ends seven years of debate about the Chicago Cubs' Single-A affiliate's future, which seemed in jeopardy last month after city and Horry County leaders couldn't reach a deal to continue their joint ownership of Pelicans Ballpark. The city owns 70 percent of the park while the county controls 30 percent.
The team's original lease expired in 2018, and the team, city and county have negotiated a series of extensions. The current lease expires at the end of this season.
But the 21st Avenue North park needs an estimated $20 million in upgrades to meet Major League Baseball's standards, and that doesn't include about $15.5 million for other repairs and maintenance.
Frustrated with the cost of maintaining the park, county officials have long wanted to convey their share of the stadium to the city. Last week, County Council offered Myrtle Beach nearly $8.3 million for the city to take over the county's share of the stadium.
The reason for the urgency now is because MLB has asked for a firm commitment to upgrading the ballpark. City officials previously said they needed to make a decision by the end of May, but MLB has been flexible as they finalized the lease.
City and county officials had discussed approving a lease that would leave the stadium ownership structure unchanged, but in early May county leaders insisted on additional concessions from the city, including restoring funding for Myrtle Beach International Airport and creating an entertainment district to generate money for the ballpark.
City officials rejected the county's terms, saying those issues couldn't be resolved quickly and shouldn't be tethered to a new lease.
County officials then offered the city $6 million to go toward the ballpark, but on May 30 the city countered and requested $10.5 million. The county's final offer was $8,250,000 and city leaders accepted it.
Ahead of the vote, Pelicans officials tried to persuade city leaders that the team was worth the investment, highlighting the taxes and fees generated by the ballpark.
Apart from the taxes and fees, the team is expected to increase its rent and add a per-ticket surcharge to generate revenue for ballpark maintenance.
"The tax revenue must be considered because if we're not here it goes away," Greenberg said. "This is a unique attraction."
Under the new lease, the Pelicans' rent will increase from $150,000 per year to $850,000 for the first 20 years and $950,000 for the final decade, ending in 2055. The original lease proposal called for the team increasing its rent to $750,000 for the first 10 years before Greenberg's offer during the council meeting.
A new per-ticket fee would also help offset the cost of capital expenses, according to city records.
That fee would start at $1 per ticket in 2031, increase to $1.50 by 2036 and jump to $2 by 2041. Over the life of the lease, the surcharge would bring in more than $6 million, according to the team's projections.
Additionally, city officials and the team have discussed the stadium hosting other events. Those events would have a surcharge of at least $2 per ticket (gradually rising to $3 by 2036) and bring in nearly $4.5 million over 30 years, according to the team's projections.
Myrtle Beach City Council erupts with cheers as Pelicans stay in Grand Strand
WMBF News Staffhttps://www.wmbfnews.com/2025/06/10/city-council-hold-final-vote-future-myrtle-beach-pelicans/
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are officially staying in the Grand Strand.The Myrtle Beach City Council chambers erupted with cheers and a standing ovation on Tuesday morning as councilmembers voted in favor of finalizing a 30-year lease agreement for Pelicans Stadium, keeping the team at the beach.It’s an issue that Myrtle Beach, Horry County and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans have been going back and forth on for several months.Myrtle Beach and Horry County had jointly owned Pelicans Ballpark sinc...
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are officially staying in the Grand Strand.
The Myrtle Beach City Council chambers erupted with cheers and a standing ovation on Tuesday morning as councilmembers voted in favor of finalizing a 30-year lease agreement for Pelicans Stadium, keeping the team at the beach.
It’s an issue that Myrtle Beach, Horry County and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans have been going back and forth on for several months.
Myrtle Beach and Horry County had jointly owned Pelicans Ballpark since it was first built in 1998, with the city owning 70% and the county owning 30%.
But a wrench was thrown in the plans in May, when Horry County decided it no longer wanted to own a 30% stake in the Pelicans Stadium and offered $8.25 million as a buyout.
The decision left the city of Myrtle Beach scrambling to figure out how to pay for $20 million in upgrades for Pelicans Ballpark that Major League Baseball requires.
The city even asked the team to find another partner to take over the 30%, not just because of the current costs, such as the upgrades, but also for future expenses.
However, a significant moment occurred on Tuesday morning when Pelicans Chairman and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg took to the podium, offering an additional $100,000 in rent for the first 10 years.
“Recognizing there is a deficit that averages in the first 10 years about $100,000 a year, if it gets this done, even though my peers in the industry already think I’m nuts for having to agree to pay $25.5 million in rent over 30 years and the surcharge, I would volunteer to increase the rent by $100,000 a year those first 10 years and start off at $850,000 if that gets this done,” Greenberg said.
The Myrtle Beach City Council amended and approved a new lease agreement, which will have the Pelicans paying $850,000 per year in rent for 20 years, and then increasing to $950,000 for the last 10 years.
Following the meeting, Myrtle Beach Pelicans President Ryan Moore said he had no idea Greenberg was going to offer to pay an extra $100,000 a year.
Greenberg added that offering the extra money wasn’t planned, but he realized he needed to act and do what needed to be done to get the lease approved.
The Pelicans released a statement after the vote thanking everyone for their support of the team.
“Without the support we were shown, today would not have been possible. From the thousands who’ve reached out, and the hundred who showed support at multiple council meetings, to the countless calls and emails, it made a difference. Your efforts did not go u
Moore said the Pelicans have booked a huge fireworks show for Tuesday night after the game against the Hickory Crawdads to celebrate that the Pelicans are staying at the beach.
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