Medicare in Arenac County by the numbers
| Arenac County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,200 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 27.7% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 5,306 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,492 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 65.8% | 63.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Michigan’s 83 counties, Arenac County comes in 68th for residents age 65 and up (4,200). Older adults make up 27.7% of the population here; the state figure is 19.2%. Another 1,460 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 63% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 30% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. About 65.8% of people with Medicare in Arenac County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Michigan average of 63.6%. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Arenac County
The USDA classifies Arenac County as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area. With fewer hospitals and clinics close by, the right Medicare plan here is often the one whose network includes the providers you can really reach.
CMS counts 5,346 Medicare beneficiaries in Arenac County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 23% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Arenac County, CMS reported about 802 emergency room visits and 244 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (645) and close to it for hospital stays (245). About 7% received home health care. These figures describe how people use care under Original Medicare; they do not show what any plan covers or costs.
Sources: CMS Medicare Geographic Variation, 2023; USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, 2023.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Arenac County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Arenac County; we help Arenac County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Arenac County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Arenac County:
- Saint Mary's Standish Community Hospital — Standish (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use before you enroll. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Communities and ZIP codes in Arenac County
People in Arenac County live in communities such as Standish (1,457), Au Gres (961), Sterling (459), Omer (283), Twining (140), Turner (120) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Arenac County, that means areas such as 48658, 48659, 48703, 48749, 48765, 48766, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Arenac County?
Reach out to us: fill out our short form or call (571) 354-0146, and a licensed agent will compare the plans available to you, check your doctors and drugs, and stay with you each year at renewal. For general Medicare information, the federal helpline is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare resources from official sources
- Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, searchable by ZIP code.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Arenac County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Arenac County residents we can compare Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Let’s check your Arenac County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
Arenac County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcona County | 3,881 | 58.9% | 17% | Rural |
| Iron County | 3,797 | 56.1% | 15% | Rural |
| Presque Isle County | 4,626 | 58.9% | 15% | Rural |
| Crawford County | 3,721 | 61.2% | 20% | Rural |
| Lake County | 3,513 | 68.3% | 28% | Rural |
| Missaukee County | 3,460 | 64.2% | 22% | Rural |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.