Medicare in Charles County by the numbers
| Charles County | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 24,347 | 1,066,384 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 14.2% | 17.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 30,102 | 1,206,222 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,511 | 298,863 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 25.0% | 24.8% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Charles County ranks 11th of 24 Maryland counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 24,347 people in that age group, or 14.2% of residents (statewide: 17.3%). The 11,383 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 60% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 25.0% of Charles County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 24.8% average across Maryland. 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 Charles County
Charles County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 28,294 Medicare beneficiaries in Charles County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Maryland average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 17%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Charles County, CMS reported about 613 emergency room visits and 200 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (555) and close to it for hospital stays (217). About 7% 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 Charles County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Charles County; we help Charles County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Charles County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Charles County:
- University of MD Charles Regional Medical Center — La Plata (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Charles County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Charles County at La Plata (10,878), Indian Head (4,170), Port Tobacco Village (25), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Charles County, that means areas such as 20601, 20602, 20603, 20611, 20612, 20616, 20617, 20622, 20625, 20632, 20637, 20640, 20645, 20646 and 8 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Charles 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.
- Maryland Health Connection, Maryland’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Maryland’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Charles County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Charles County households, including group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Get a clear answer for Charles County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Charles County residents
- 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
Charles County compared with similar Maryland counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 28,617 | 24.1% | 20% | Metro |
| Cecil County | 18,651 | 21.8% | 16% | Metro |
| Wicomico County | 18,040 | 27.3% | 22% | Metro |
| St. Mary's County | 16,904 | 16.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Carroll County | 32,310 | 20.5% | 11% | Metro |
| Calvert County | 16,037 | 18.3% | 11% | Metro |
See every Maryland county in our Maryland directory or go to our Maryland Medicare hub.