Medicare in Bienville Parish by the numbers
| Bienville Parish | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 2,651 | 793,655 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.4% | 17.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 3,545 | 977,541 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,899 | 561,903 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 53.6% | 57.5% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Bienville Parish ranks 52nd of 64 Louisiana parishes by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 2,651 people in that age group, or 21.4% of residents (statewide: 17.4%). About 972 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 55% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 33% is 75 to 84 and 13% is 85 or older. CMS data show 53.6% of Bienville Parish residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 57.5% average across Louisiana. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Bienville Parish
Bienville Parish is a rural county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area. Rural counties tend to have fewer local hospitals and doctors, so a plan’s network and the distance to care matter a great deal.
CMS counts 3,582 Medicare beneficiaries in Bienville Parish (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Louisiana average of 72. About 26% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 20%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Bienville Parish, CMS reported about 703 emergency room visits and 275 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (648) and higher than it for hospital stays (237). About 12% 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 Bienville Parish may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Bienville Parish; we help Bienville Parish residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Bienville Parish
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Bienville Parish:
- Bienville Medical Center — Arcadia (critical access; for-profit; 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Bienville Parish
People in Bienville Parish live in communities such as Arcadia (2,580), Ringgold (1,316), Gibsland (739), Saline (252), Lucky (240), Castor (220) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Bienville Parish, that means areas such as 71008, 71016, 71028, 71045, 71068, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Bienville Parish?
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.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Louisiana Department of Insurance: Louisiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Bienville Parish residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Bienville Parish households, including annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Let’s check your Bienville Parish options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Bienville Parish compared with similar Louisiana parishes
| Parish | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winn Parish | 2,555 | 43.5% | 25% | Rural |
| LaSalle Parish | 2,410 | 35.3% | 22% | Rural |
| Claiborne Parish | 3,132 | 44.5% | 21% | Rural |
| West Carroll Parish | 2,054 | 45.4% | 22% | Rural |
| Caldwell Parish | 1,792 | 51.0% | 26% | Rural |
| Catahoula Parish | 1,630 | 46.7% | 23% | Rural |
See every Louisiana parish in our Louisiana directory or go to our Louisiana Medicare hub.