Cullman County Medicare at a glance
| Cullman County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 17,862 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.4% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 21,609 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,994 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 60.1% | 61.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 17,862 residents age 65 and older, Cullman County is 15th among 67 Alabama counties for older residents. That group is 19.4% of its population, compared with 18.3% across Alabama. The 6,242 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 58% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 33% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. CMS data show 60.1% of Cullman County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 61.5% average across Alabama. 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 Cullman County
Cullman County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 21,725 Medicare beneficiaries in Cullman County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 16% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Cullman County, CMS reported about 616 emergency room visits and 303 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (600) and higher than it for hospital stays (247). 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Cullman County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Cullman County; we help Cullman County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Cullman County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Cullman County:
- Cullman Regional Medical Center — Cullman (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
Cullman County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Cullman County at Cullman (19,913), Hanceville (3,324), Good Hope (2,615), Holly Pond (860), Baileyton (683), West Point (640), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Cullman County include 35019, 35033, 35053, 35055, 35057, 35058, 35070, 35077, 35083, 35098, 35179. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Cullman 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Cullman County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Cullman County households, including annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Cullman County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
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- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
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Cullman County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 17,500 | 57.4% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Talladega County | 16,185 | 68.2% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| DeKalb County | 13,132 | 57.9% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
| Jackson County | 11,383 | 57.1% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Tallapoosa County | 9,836 | 60.9% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Coffee County | 9,764 | 54.3% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.