The numbers behind Medicare in Durham County
| Durham County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 50,717 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.1% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 56,463 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 29,392 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 52.1% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Durham County comes in 7th for residents age 65 and up (50,717). Older adults make up 15.1% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. Another 18,173 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, 61% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 52.1% of people with Medicare in Durham County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is lower than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Durham County
Durham County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 55,079 Medicare beneficiaries in Durham County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 11% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Durham County, CMS reported about 515 emergency room visits and 197 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). About 7% 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 Durham County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Durham County; we help Durham County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Durham County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Durham County:
- Duke Regional Hospital — Durham (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
- Duke University Hospital — Durham (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
- North Carolina Specialty Hospital — Durham (acute care; for-profit; no emergency department)
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 Durham County
People in Durham County live in communities such as Durham (295,761), Chapel Hill (2,852), Raleigh (1,603), Morrisville (225), Cary (1) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Durham County number 10: 27503, 27701, 27703, 27704, 27705, 27707, 27708, 27709, 27712, 27713. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Durham 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Durham County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Durham 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.
Ready to compare plans in Durham 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
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare 101 for families
Durham County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County | 46,870 | 45.3% | 10% | Metro |
| Brunswick County | 55,001 | 44.5% | 5% | Metro |
| Cumberland County | 44,854 | 58.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Buncombe County | 60,275 | 48.3% | 11% | Metro |
| Gaston County | 39,774 | 63.5% | 15% | Metro |
| Union County | 35,466 | 53.3% | 9% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.