Mason County Medicare at a glance
| Mason County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,830 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 26.9% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 9,587 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,393 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 66.7% | 63.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Mason County ranks 48th of 83 Michigan counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 7,830 people in that age group, or 26.9% of residents (statewide: 19.2%). About 2,428 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 61% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 29% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. About 66.7% of people with Medicare in Mason County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Michigan average of 63.6%. 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 Mason County
Mason 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, not 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 9,349 Medicare beneficiaries in Mason County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 22% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Mason County, CMS reported about 778 emergency room visits and 223 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (645) and close to it for hospital stays (245). 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Mason County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Mason County; we help Mason County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Mason County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Mason County:
- Corewell Health Ludington Hospital — Ludington (acute care; nonprofit; 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.
Mason County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Mason County by 2023 Census population estimates are Ludington (7,597), Scottville (1,356), Custer (294), Fountain (182), Free Soil (150). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Mason County, that means areas such as 49405, 49410, 49411, 49431, 49454, 49458, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Mason 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 Mason County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Mason County households, including group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Get a clear answer for Mason County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Mason County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare 101 for families
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Mason County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iosco County | 7,982 | 59.3% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Cheboygan County | 7,676 | 57.2% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
| Gratiot County | 7,437 | 67.6% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| Alpena County | 7,403 | 57.6% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Charlevoix County | 7,377 | 56.6% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Manistee County | 7,368 | 63.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.