Lancaster County Medicare at a glance
| Lancaster County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 23,409 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.6% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 27,710 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,517 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 45.2% | 46.7% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 23,409 residents age 65 and older, Lancaster County is 15th among 46 South Carolina counties for older residents. That group is 21.6% of its population, compared with 19.3% across South Carolina. The 6,666 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 55% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 37% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. CMS data show 45.2% of Lancaster County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 46.7% average across South Carolina. 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 Lancaster County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Lancaster County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 26,535 Medicare beneficiaries in Lancaster County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 5% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 7%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Lancaster County, CMS reported about 546 emergency room visits and 190 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (563) and close to it for hospital stays (202). 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 Lancaster County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Lancaster County; we help Lancaster County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Lancaster County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Lancaster County:
- MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center — Lancaster (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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.
Lancaster County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Lancaster County by 2023 Census population estimates are Lancaster (9,103), Kershaw (1,905), Van Wyck (990), Heath Springs (832). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Lancaster County, that means areas such as 29058, 29067, 29707, 29720, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Lancaster 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.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: South Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Lancaster County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Lancaster 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.
Ready to compare plans in Lancaster 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
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Lancaster County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | 23,861 | 55.2% | 7% | Metro |
| Florence County | 25,047 | 47.0% | 12% | Metro |
| Dorchester County | 26,553 | 43.2% | 7% | Metro |
| Sumter County | 18,854 | 50.0% | 10% | Metro |
| Kershaw County | 13,328 | 48.4% | 7% | Metro |
| Laurens County | 13,209 | 52.7% | 13% | Metro |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.