The numbers behind Medicare in Howard County
| Howard County | Indiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 16,886 | 1,179,148 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.1% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 21,187 | 1,432,708 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 10,868 | 731,624 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 51.3% | 51.1% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Howard County ranks 18th of 92 Indiana counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 16,886 people in that age group, or 20.1% of residents (statewide: 17.2%). The 5,683 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 57% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 33% is 75 to 84 and 11% is 85 or older. About 51.3% of people with Medicare in Howard County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Indiana average of 51.1%. 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 Howard County
Howard 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 20,998 Medicare beneficiaries in Howard County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Indiana average of 72. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 16%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Howard County, CMS reported about 671 emergency room visits and 231 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (619) and close to it for hospital stays (235). 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 Howard County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Howard County; we help Howard County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Howard County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Howard County:
- Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo — Kokomo (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
- Community Howard Regional Health — Kokomo (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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 Howard County
People in Howard County live in communities such as Kokomo (59,890), Greentown (2,405), Russiaville (1,310) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Howard County, that means areas such as 46901, 46902, 46936, 46937, 46965, 46979, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Howard 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.
- Indiana Department of Insurance: Indiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Howard County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Howard County residents we can compare ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans and ACA health insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Howard County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Howard County residents
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
Howard County compared with similar Indiana counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vigo County | 18,749 | 47.9% | 22% | Metro |
| Hancock County | 14,946 | 51.2% | 11% | Metro |
| Floyd County | 14,612 | 42.0% | 15% | Metro |
| Bartholomew County | 14,485 | 45.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Delaware County | 20,083 | 54.0% | 17% | Metro |
| Morgan County | 13,629 | 56.7% | 14% | Metro |
See every Indiana county in our Indiana directory or go to our Indiana Medicare hub.