Pender County Medicare at a glance
| Pender County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 12,496 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.2% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 15,934 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,359 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 52.5% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Pender County ranks 44th of 100 North Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 12,496 people in that age group, or 18.2% of residents (statewide: 17.6%). Another 4,827 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 62% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 8% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 52.5% of Pender County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 57.9% average across North 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 Pender County
Pender 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 15,232 Medicare beneficiaries in Pender County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 11% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Pender County, CMS reported about 553 emergency room visits and 172 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and lower than 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Pender County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Pender County; we help Pender County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Pender County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Pender County:
- Pender Memorial Hospital — Burgaw (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
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.
Where people live in Pender County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Pender County at Surf City (4,379), Burgaw (3,415), Topsail Beach (497), St. Helena (430), Atkinson (336), Watha (210), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Pender County number 6: 28421, 28425, 28435, 28443, 28457, 28478. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Pender 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 Pender County residents
Here is what we can help Pender County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Let’s check your Pender County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
Pender County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 13,602 | 59.6% | 13% | Metro |
| Stokes County | 10,609 | 70.8% | 16% | Metro |
| Edgecombe County | 10,519 | 67.4% | 21% | Metro |
| Davie County | 10,088 | 67.2% | 10% | Metro |
| Person County | 8,542 | 62.7% | 14% | Metro |
| Yadkin County | 8,062 | 74.9% | 15% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.