New Hanover County Medicare at a glance
| New Hanover County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 46,870 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.6% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 55,481 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 25,135 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 45.3% | 57.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
New Hanover County ranks 8th of 100 North Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 46,870 people in that age group, or 19.6% of residents (statewide: 17.6%). About 15,786 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. About 45.3% of people with Medicare in New Hanover County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is lower than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 New Hanover County
New Hanover 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 53,911 Medicare beneficiaries in New Hanover County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 10% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in New Hanover County, CMS reported about 503 emergency room visits and 189 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and New Hanover County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in New Hanover County; we help New Hanover County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in New Hanover County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in New Hanover County:
- Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center — Wilmington (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Wilmington Treatment Center — Wilmington (acute care; nonprofit; no emergency department)
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.
Communities and ZIP codes in New Hanover County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in New Hanover County at Wilmington (122,698), Carolina Beach (6,826), Wrightsville Beach (2,420), Kure Beach (2,156), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside New Hanover County include 28401, 28403, 28405, 28409, 28411, 28412, 28428, 28429, 28449, 28480. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in New Hanover 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer New Hanover County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for New Hanover County residents we can compare ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans and ACA health insurance.
Ready to compare plans in New Hanover County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
New Hanover County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 44,854 | 58.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Durham County | 50,717 | 52.1% | 11% | Metro |
| Gaston County | 39,774 | 63.5% | 15% | Metro |
| Brunswick County | 55,001 | 44.5% | 5% | Metro |
| Union County | 35,466 | 53.3% | 9% | Metro |
| Iredell County | 34,075 | 60.1% | 9% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.