Medicare in Marshall County by the numbers
| Marshall County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 17,500 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.4% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 22,014 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,633 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.4% | 61.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Marshall County ranks 16th of 67 Alabama counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 17,500 people in that age group, or 17.4% of residents (statewide: 18.3%). About 6,531 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Marshall County is 57.4% of people with Medicare, close to the Alabama average of 61.5%. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Marshall County
The USDA classifies Marshall County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 22,604 Medicare beneficiaries in Marshall County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 16% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Marshall County, CMS reported about 569 emergency room visits and 209 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (600) and lower than it for hospital stays (247). About 11% 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 Marshall County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Marshall County; we help Marshall County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Marshall County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Marshall County:
- Marshall Medical Centers — Boaz (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Marshall County
People in Marshall County live in communities such as Albertville (23,031), Boaz (9,260), Guntersville (9,028), Arab (8,808), Grant (1,057), Douglas (782) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Marshall County number 9: 35016, 35175, 35747, 35755, 35950, 35951, 35957, 35976, 35980. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Marshall 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Marshall County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Marshall County households, including life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Get a clear answer for Marshall 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
Marshall County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cullman County | 17,862 | 60.1% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Talladega County | 16,185 | 68.2% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| DeKalb County | 13,132 | 57.9% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
| Jackson County | 11,383 | 57.1% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Tallapoosa County | 9,836 | 60.9% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Coffee County | 9,764 | 54.3% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.