Medicare in Cherokee County by the numbers
| Cherokee County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 10,061 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.7% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 13,535 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,577 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 56.0% | 46.7% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Cherokee County ranks 24th of 46 South Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 10,061 people in that age group, or 17.7% of residents (statewide: 19.3%). About 3,665 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, 31% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Cherokee County is 56.0% of people with Medicare, higher than the South Carolina average of 46.7%. 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 Cherokee County
The USDA classifies Cherokee County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 13,457 Medicare beneficiaries in Cherokee County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 9% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 7%. 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 Cherokee County, CMS reported about 606 emergency room visits and 193 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (563) and close to it for hospital stays (202). 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 Cherokee County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Cherokee County; we help Cherokee County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Cherokee County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Cherokee County:
- Cherokee Medical Center — Gaffney (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
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.
Where people live in Cherokee County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Cherokee County at Gaffney (12,484), Blacksburg (1,912), Chesnee (17), Smyrna (0), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Cherokee County, that means areas such as 29330, 29340, 29341, 29702, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Cherokee 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.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: South Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Cherokee County residents
Here is what we can help Cherokee County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Let’s check your Cherokee County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Cherokee County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield County | 8,639 | 51.2% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Newberry County | 8,125 | 44.7% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Colleton County | 8,072 | 50.5% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Williamsburg County | 6,987 | 61.0% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Greenwood County | 13,781 | 48.0% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Marion County | 6,253 | 57.5% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.