Medicare in Catawba County by the numbers
| Catawba County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 31,389 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.1% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 41,671 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 24,809 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 59.5% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Catawba County ranks 17th of 100 North Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 31,389 people in that age group, or 19.1% of residents (statewide: 17.6%). About 11,509 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Catawba County is 59.5% of people with Medicare, close to the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Catawba County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Catawba County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 38,423 Medicare beneficiaries in Catawba County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Catawba County, CMS reported about 537 emergency room visits and 196 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). About 10% 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 Catawba County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Catawba County; we help Catawba County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Catawba County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Catawba County:
- Catawba Valley Medical Center — Hickory (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
- Frye Regional Medical Center — Hickory (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
Catawba County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Catawba County at Hickory (44,299), Newton (13,399), Conover (8,635), Long View (4,457), Maiden (3,842), Claremont (1,729), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Catawba County include 28601, 28602, 28609, 28610, 28613, 28650, 28658, 28673, 28682. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Catawba 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Catawba County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Catawba 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.
Let’s check your Catawba County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Catawba County residents
- 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
Catawba County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 31,260 | 71.4% | 16% | Metro |
| Henderson County | 32,282 | 47.3% | 7% | Metro |
| Cabarrus County | 33,340 | 63.1% | 11% | Metro |
| Davidson County | 33,888 | 71.4% | 13% | Metro |
| Johnston County | 33,935 | 56.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Iredell County | 34,075 | 60.1% | 9% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.