Bladen County Medicare at a glance
| Bladen County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,114 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 24.1% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,611 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 5,616 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 65.2% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Bladen County ranks 70th of 100 North Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 7,114 people in that age group, or 24.1% of residents (statewide: 17.6%). Another 2,085 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 60% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 65.2% of people with Medicare in Bladen County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is higher than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Bladen County
The USDA classifies Bladen 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 8,533 Medicare beneficiaries in Bladen County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 13%. 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 Bladen County, CMS reported about 787 emergency room visits and 250 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (572) and higher than it for hospital stays (210). About 9% 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Bladen County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Bladen County; we help Bladen County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Bladen County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Bladen County:
- Cape Fear Valley-Bladen County Hospital — Elizabethtown (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan 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 Bladen County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Bladen County at Elizabethtown (3,265), Bladenboro (1,634), White Lake (842), Clarkton (602), East Arcadia (414), Dublin (262), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Bladen County number 8: 28320, 28332, 28337, 28392, 28399, 28433, 28434, 28448. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Bladen 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.
- 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Bladen County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Bladen 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.
Get a clear answer for Bladen County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Bladen County residents
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Bladen County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashe County | 7,581 | 50.1% | 15% | Rural |
| Polk County | 6,596 | 42.1% | 8% | Rural |
| Montgomery County | 5,934 | 68.7% | 18% | Rural |
| Caswell County | 5,356 | 65.1% | 22% | Rural |
| Warren County | 5,232 | 66.5% | 18% | Rural |
| Northampton County | 5,096 | 59.5% | 19% | Rural |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.