Medicare in Oconee County by the numbers
| Oconee County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 20,649 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.4% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 25,284 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 11,956 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 47.3% | 46.7% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Oconee County ranks 17th of 46 South Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 20,649 people in that age group, or 25.4% of residents (statewide: 19.3%). About 6,730 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 60% are 65 to 74, 32% are 75 to 84 and 8% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Oconee County is 47.3% of people with Medicare, close to the South Carolina average of 46.7%. 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 Oconee County
The USDA classifies Oconee 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 24,619 Medicare beneficiaries in Oconee 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, lower than the state figure of 7%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Oconee County, CMS reported about 531 emergency room visits and 184 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 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Oconee County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Oconee County; we help Oconee County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Oconee County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Oconee County:
- Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital — Seneca (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan 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.
Oconee County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Oconee County live in communities such as Seneca (9,043), Walhalla (4,199), Westminster (2,413), West Union (385), Salem (123) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Oconee County number 11: 29643, 29658, 29664, 29665, 29672, 29676, 29678, 29686, 29691, 29693, 29696. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Oconee 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 Oconee County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Oconee County residents we can compare Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Let’s check your Oconee County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Oconee County residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare 101 for families
Oconee County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown County | 20,784 | 42.1% | 5% | Smaller city/town |
| Orangeburg County | 17,680 | 58.9% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Greenwood County | 13,781 | 48.0% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Cherokee County | 10,061 | 56.0% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Chesterfield County | 8,639 | 51.2% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Newberry County | 8,125 | 44.7% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.