Decatur County Medicare at a glance
| Decatur County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 5,200 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.9% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,049 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,747 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.9% | 56.2% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 5,200 residents age 65 and older, Decatur County is 71st among 159 Georgia counties for older residents. That group is 17.9% of its population, compared with 15.4% across Georgia. The 1,871 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 58% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Decatur County is 61.9% of people with Medicare, higher than the Georgia average of 56.2%. 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 Decatur County
The USDA classifies Decatur 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 6,241 Medicare beneficiaries in Decatur County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 12%. 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 Decatur County, CMS reported about 743 emergency room visits and 238 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (560) and close to it for hospital stays (223). 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 Decatur County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Decatur County; we help Decatur County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Decatur County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Decatur County:
- Memorial Hospital and Manor — Bainbridge (acute care; government-owned; no emergency department; CMS overall rating 1 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.
Where people live in Decatur County
People in Decatur County live in communities such as Bainbridge (14,423), Attapulgus (447), Climax (270), Brinson (214) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Decatur County number 5: 39815, 39817, 39819, 39825, 39834. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Decatur 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Decatur County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Decatur County households, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Get a clear answer for Decatur County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Decatur County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grady County | 5,107 | 60.8% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Upson County | 5,303 | 65.3% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Sumter County | 5,305 | 66.3% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Wayne County | 5,050 | 57.9% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Chattooga County | 4,844 | 68.4% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Stephens County | 5,781 | 58.7% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.