Medicare in Etowah County by the numbers
| Etowah County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 20,695 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.0% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 26,530 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 17,606 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 66.4% | 61.5% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 20,695 residents age 65 and older, Etowah County is 12th among 67 Alabama counties for older residents. That group is 20.0% of its population, compared with 18.3% across Alabama. Another 6,866 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. About 66.4% of people with Medicare in Etowah County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Alabama average of 61.5%. 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 Etowah County
Etowah County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 27,579 Medicare beneficiaries in Etowah County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 21% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 14%. 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 Etowah County, CMS reported about 616 emergency room visits and 312 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 14% 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 Etowah County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Etowah County; we help Etowah County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Etowah County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Etowah County:
- Gadsden Regional Medical Center — Gadsden (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
- Riverview Regional Medical Center — Gadsden (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.
Etowah County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Etowah County at Gadsden (33,229), Rainbow City (10,322), Southside (9,392), Attalla (5,818), Glencoe (5,386), Hokes Bluff (4,648), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Etowah County, that means areas such as 35901, 35903, 35904, 35905, 35906, 35907, 35952, 35954, 35956, 35972, 35990, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Etowah 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 Etowah County residents
Here is what we can help Etowah County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Get a clear answer for Etowah County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Etowah County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston County | 20,813 | 60.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Lauderdale County | 20,189 | 54.8% | 13% | Metro |
| Calhoun County | 21,825 | 57.0% | 14% | Metro |
| Morgan County | 23,040 | 55.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Limestone County | 18,332 | 52.5% | 9% | Metro |
| St. Clair County | 17,443 | 60.4% | 9% | Metro |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.