Edgecombe County Medicare at a glance
| Edgecombe County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 10,519 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.5% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 12,787 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,614 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 67.4% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 10,519 residents age 65 and older, Edgecombe County is 55th among 100 North Carolina counties for older residents. That group is 21.5% of its population, compared with 17.6% across North Carolina. The 3,569 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 60% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 67.4% of people with Medicare in Edgecombe County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is higher than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 13,541 Medicare beneficiaries in Edgecombe County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 21% 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 Edgecombe County, CMS reported about 744 emergency room visits and 243 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 8% 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 Edgecombe County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Edgecombe County; we help Edgecombe County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Edgecombe County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Edgecombe County:
- Vidant Edgecombe Hospital — Tarboro (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. 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 Edgecombe County
People in Edgecombe County live in communities such as Rocky Mount (15,249), Tarboro (10,859), Princeville (1,281), Pinetops (1,193), Macclesfield (406), Whitakers (295) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Edgecombe County number 8: 27801, 27809, 27815, 27819, 27852, 27864, 27881, 27886. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Edgecombe 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 Edgecombe County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Edgecombe County residents we can compare ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Let’s check your Edgecombe County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Edgecombe County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stokes County | 10,609 | 70.8% | 16% | Metro |
| Davie County | 10,088 | 67.2% | 10% | Metro |
| Pender County | 12,496 | 52.5% | 11% | Metro |
| Person County | 8,542 | 62.7% | 14% | Metro |
| Yadkin County | 8,062 | 74.9% | 15% | Metro |
| Alexander County | 7,554 | 64.2% | 13% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.