Medicare in Kalamazoo County by the numbers
| Kalamazoo County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 43,432 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 16.6% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 55,417 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 36,443 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 65.8% | 63.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Kalamazoo County ranks 8th of 83 Michigan counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 43,432 people in that age group, or 16.6% of residents (statewide: 19.2%). The 14,377 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 59% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 65.8% of Kalamazoo County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 63.6% average across Michigan. 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 Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo 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 54,615 Medicare beneficiaries in Kalamazoo County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Kalamazoo County, CMS reported about 584 emergency room visits and 203 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (645) and lower than it for hospital stays (245). About 6% 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Kalamazoo County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Kalamazoo County; we help Kalamazoo County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Kalamazoo County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Kalamazoo County:
- Borgess Medical Center — Kalamazoo (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Bronson Methodist Hospital — Kalamazoo (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 Kalamazoo County
The largest communities in Kalamazoo County by 2023 Census population estimates are Kalamazoo (73,126), Portage (49,302), Vicksburg (3,929), Galesburg (2,059), Parchment (1,893), Schoolcraft (1,445). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Kalamazoo County, that means areas such as 49001, 49002, 49004, 49006, 49007, 49008, 49009, 49012, 49024, 49034, 49048, 49052, 49053, 49074 and 4 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Kalamazoo 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.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Kalamazoo County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Kalamazoo 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.
Get a clear answer for Kalamazoo County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Kalamazoo County residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
Kalamazoo County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingham County | 43,269 | 67.1% | 34% | Metro |
| Livingston County | 40,325 | 55.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Saginaw County | 39,113 | 68.3% | 21% | Metro |
| Ottawa County | 52,010 | 77.3% | 17% | Metro |
| Berrien County | 33,509 | 57.0% | 12% | Metro |
| St. Clair County | 33,468 | 63.4% | 20% | Metro |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.