Medicare in Chester County by the numbers
| Chester County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,384 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.8% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,302 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,569 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 55.0% | 46.7% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Chester County ranks 31st of 46 South Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 6,384 people in that age group, or 19.8% of residents (statewide: 19.3%). About 2,308 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 61% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 55.0% of Chester County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher than the 46.7% average across South Carolina. 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 Chester County
Chester 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 8,411 Medicare beneficiaries in Chester County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 11% 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 Chester County, CMS reported about 646 emergency room visits and 227 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (563) and higher than 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Chester County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Chester County; we help Chester County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Chester County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Chester County:
- MUSC Health Chester Medical Center — Chester (acute care; for-profit; 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 Chester County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Chester County at Chester (5,227), Great Falls (1,927), Fort Lawn (973), Richburg (274), Lowrys (183), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Chester County include 29031, 29055, 29706, 29712, 29714, 29724, 29729. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Chester 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.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: South Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Chester County residents
Here is what we can help Chester County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: 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 Chester County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Chester County residents
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Chester County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 5,904 | 60.6% | 11% | Metro |
| Edgefield County | 5,677 | 50.1% | 7% | Metro |
| Fairfield County | 5,103 | 54.7% | 11% | Metro |
| Jasper County | 8,375 | 38.7% | 5% | Metro |
| Saluda County | 4,015 | 40.4% | 10% | Metro |
| Calhoun County | 3,569 | 49.5% | 9% | Metro |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.