Medicare in Kent County by the numbers
| Kent County | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 5,519 | 1,066,384 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 28.6% | 17.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,192 | 1,206,222 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,134 | 298,863 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 18.3% | 24.8% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Maryland’s 24 counties, Kent County comes in 23rd for residents age 65 and up (5,519). Older adults make up 28.6% of the population here; the state figure is 17.3%. About 1,609 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 53% are 65 to 74, 36% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 18.3% of people with Medicare in Kent County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is lower than the Maryland average of 24.8%. 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 Kent County
Kent County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 6,352 Medicare beneficiaries in Kent County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the Maryland average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 17%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Kent County, CMS reported about 610 emergency room visits and 164 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (555) and lower than it for hospital stays (217). 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Kent County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Kent County; we help Kent County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Kent County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Kent County:
- University of MD Shore Medical Center at Chestertown — Chestertown (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 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.
Kent County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Kent County by 2023 Census population estimates are Chestertown (5,590), Rock Hall (1,189), Galena (531), Millington (522), Betterton (283). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Kent County, that means areas such as 21610, 21620, 21635, 21645, 21650, 21651, 21661, 21667, 21678, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Kent 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.
- Maryland Health Connection, Maryland’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Maryland’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Kent County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Kent County households, including annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Kent 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
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Kent County compared with similar Maryland counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | 5,995 | 23.7% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Somerset County | 4,555 | 30.4% | 28% | Metro |
| Garrett County | 7,163 | 22.1% | 18% | Rural |
| Dorchester County | 7,760 | 26.2% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| Queen Anne's County | 11,200 | 17.1% | 10% | Metro |
| Talbot County | 11,522 | 15.8% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
See every Maryland county in our Maryland directory or go to our Maryland Medicare hub.