Lexington County Medicare at a glance
| Lexington County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 54,364 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.6% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 66,670 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 28,170 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 42.3% | 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 54,364 residents age 65 and older, Lexington County is 7th among 46 South Carolina counties for older residents. That group is 17.6% of its population, compared with 19.3% across South Carolina. Another 20,210 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 31% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Lexington County is 42.3% of people with Medicare, close to the South Carolina average of 46.7%. 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 Lexington County
Lexington 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 65,376 Medicare beneficiaries in Lexington County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 6% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 7%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Lexington County, CMS reported about 459 emergency room visits and 203 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (563) and close to it for hospital stays (202). About 10% 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 Lexington County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Lexington County; we help Lexington County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Lexington County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Lexington County:
- Lexington Medical Center — West Columbia (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge — Columbia (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.
Lexington County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Lexington County by 2023 Census population estimates are Lexington (24,921), West Columbia (18,316), Cayce (13,161), Batesburg-Leesville (4,861), Irmo (4,214), Springdale (2,720). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Lexington County, that means areas such as 29033, 29036, 29053, 29054, 29070, 29072, 29073, 29123, 29160, 29169, 29170, 29172, 29212, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Lexington 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.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: South Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Lexington County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Lexington County residents we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Get a clear answer for Lexington County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Lexington County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County | 58,041 | 32.6% | 2% | Metro |
| Spartanburg County | 58,315 | 54.3% | 9% | Metro |
| York County | 47,392 | 46.5% | 6% | Metro |
| Richland County | 61,710 | 43.1% | 7% | Metro |
| Anderson County | 39,704 | 53.7% | 7% | Metro |
| Berkeley County | 38,856 | 44.3% | 5% | Metro |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.