The numbers behind Medicare in Cass County
| Cass County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 11,910 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 23.1% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 13,961 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,492 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 53.7% | 63.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 11,910 residents age 65 and older, Cass County is 31st among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 23.1% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. Another 4,007 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Cass County is 53.7% of people with Medicare, lower than 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 Cass County
Cass County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 13,839 Medicare beneficiaries in Cass County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 13% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Cass County, CMS reported about 564 emergency room visits and 206 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 6% 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 Cass County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Cass County; we help Cass County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Cass County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Cass County:
- Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital — Dowagiac (critical access; nonprofit; 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 Cass County
The largest communities in Cass County by 2023 Census population estimates are Dowagiac (5,673), Cassopolis (1,718), Edwardsburg (1,290), Marcellus (1,049), Vandalia (325), Niles (0). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Cass County number 7: 49031, 49047, 49061, 49067, 49095, 49112, 49130. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Cass 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 Cass County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Cass County residents we can compare annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Cass County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Cass County residents
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Cass County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montcalm County | 12,630 | 71.7% | 22% | Metro |
| Barry County | 12,828 | 67.6% | 13% | Metro |
| Ionia County | 10,886 | 74.4% | 25% | Metro |
| Clinton County | 15,530 | 71.3% | 17% | Metro |
| Leelanau County | 7,962 | 57.3% | 7% | Metro |
| Midland County | 17,470 | 64.9% | 22% | Metro |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.