Medicare in Cleveland County by the numbers
| Cleveland County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 19,581 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.3% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 25,576 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 16,035 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 62.7% | 57.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Cleveland County comes in 30th for residents age 65 and up (19,581). Older adults make up 19.3% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. Another 6,915 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 59% are 65 to 74, 33% are 75 to 84 and 8% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 62.7% of Cleveland County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 57.9% average across North Carolina. 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 Cleveland County
The USDA classifies Cleveland County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, 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 25,293 Medicare beneficiaries in Cleveland County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 17% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 13%. 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 Cleveland County, CMS reported about 668 emergency room visits and 242 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (572) and higher than it for hospital stays (210). About 11% 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 Cleveland County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Cleveland County; we help Cleveland County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Cleveland County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Cleveland County:
- Atrium Health Cleveland — Shelby (acute care; government-owned; 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.
Cleveland County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Cleveland County at Shelby (22,010), Kings Mountain (10,647), Boiling Springs (4,637), Belwood (875), Grover (813), Kingstown (666), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Cleveland County include 28017, 28020, 28042, 28073, 28086, 28089, 28090, 28114, 28136, 28150, 28152, 28169. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Cleveland 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Cleveland County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Cleveland County residents we can compare Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Ready to compare plans in Cleveland County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare 101 for families
Cleveland County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County | 19,399 | 41.4% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Harnett County | 19,862 | 56.4% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Robeson County | 19,007 | 75.0% | 27% | Smaller city/town |
| Craven County | 22,151 | 42.1% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Haywood County | 16,420 | 53.9% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Wilkes County | 15,483 | 67.9% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.