Colleton County Medicare at a glance
| Colleton County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 8,072 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.8% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 10,747 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 5,431 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 50.5% | 46.7% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Colleton County ranks 28th of 46 South Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 8,072 people in that age group, or 20.8% of residents (statewide: 19.3%). The 2,878 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 61% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Colleton County is 50.5% of people with Medicare, close to 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 Colleton County
Colleton County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 10,698 Medicare beneficiaries in Colleton 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 Colleton County, CMS reported about 719 emergency room visits and 204 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (563) and close to it for hospital stays (202). About 12% 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Colleton County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Colleton County; we help Colleton County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Colleton County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Colleton County:
- Colleton Medical Center — Walterboro (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
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 Colleton County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Colleton County at Walterboro (5,475), Edisto Beach (1,049), Cottageville (711), Smoaks (98), Williams (96), Lodge (82), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Colleton County, that means areas such as 29082, 29435, 29446, 29452, 29474, 29475, 29481, 29488, 29493, 29929, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Colleton 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 Colleton County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Colleton County residents we can compare Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Ready to compare plans in Colleton County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- 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
Colleton County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newberry County | 8,125 | 44.7% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Chesterfield County | 8,639 | 51.2% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Williamsburg County | 6,987 | 61.0% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Marion County | 6,253 | 57.5% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Cherokee County | 10,061 | 56.0% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Abbeville County | 5,691 | 50.2% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.