Medicare in Orangeburg County by the numbers
| Orangeburg County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 17,680 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.3% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 22,023 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,972 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 58.9% | 46.7% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among South Carolina’s 46 counties, Orangeburg County comes in 19th for residents age 65 and up (17,680). Older adults make up 21.3% of the population here; the state figure is 19.3%. The 5,906 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 58% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 58.9% of Orangeburg County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher than the 46.7% average across South Carolina. 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 Orangeburg County
Orangeburg County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 22,277 Medicare beneficiaries in Orangeburg County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 10% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 7%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Orangeburg County, CMS reported about 568 emergency room visits and 199 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Orangeburg County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Orangeburg County; we help Orangeburg County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Orangeburg County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Orangeburg County. Residents often use hospitals in neighboring counties, which matters for Medicare Advantage because a plan’s network may include or leave out the hospital you use. We check your hospitals and doctors before you enroll.
Orangeburg County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Orangeburg County live in communities such as Orangeburg (13,280), Holly Hill (1,252), Branchville (971), Santee (812), Bowman (765), North (676) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Orangeburg County, that means areas such as 29018, 29038, 29039, 29047, 29048, 29059, 29107, 29112, 29113, 29115, 29117, 29118, 29133, 29142 and 3 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Orangeburg 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 Orangeburg County residents
Here is what we can help Orangeburg County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Ready to compare plans in Orangeburg County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Orangeburg County residents
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Orangeburg County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee County | 20,649 | 47.3% | 6% | Smaller city/town |
| Georgetown County | 20,784 | 42.1% | 5% | 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.