Benzie County Medicare at a glance
| Benzie County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 5,392 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 29.2% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,232 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,768 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 60.5% | 63.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Michigan’s 83 counties, Benzie County comes in 64th for residents age 65 and up (5,392). Older adults make up 29.2% of the population here; the state figure is 19.2%. Another 1,654 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 58% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Benzie County is 60.5% of people with Medicare, 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 Benzie County
Benzie County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 6,221 Medicare beneficiaries in Benzie County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Benzie County, CMS reported about 562 emergency room visits and 186 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (645) and lower than it for hospital stays (245). About 8% 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Benzie County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Benzie County; we help Benzie County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Benzie County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Benzie County:
- Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital — Frankfort (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Where people live in Benzie County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Benzie County at Frankfort (1,277), Benzonia (558), Thompsonville (484), Honor (333), Elberta (315), Beulah (310), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Benzie County number 8: 49616, 49617, 49628, 49635, 49640, 49643, 49650, 49683. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Benzie 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 Benzie County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Benzie County households, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Ready to compare plans in Benzie County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Benzie County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalkaska County | 4,145 | 63.8% | 23% | Metro |
| Leelanau County | 7,962 | 57.3% | 7% | Metro |
| Ionia County | 10,886 | 74.4% | 25% | Metro |
| Cass County | 11,910 | 53.7% | 13% | Metro |
| Montcalm County | 12,630 | 71.7% | 22% | Metro |
| Barry County | 12,828 | 67.6% | 13% | Metro |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.