The numbers behind Medicare in Pierce County
| Pierce County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 3,566 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.5% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 4,526 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,443 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.0% | 56.2% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Georgia’s 159 counties, Pierce County comes in 97th for residents age 65 and up (3,566). Older adults make up 17.5% of the population here; the state figure is 15.4%. The 1,228 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 58% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 33% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. CMS data show 54.0% of Pierce County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 56.2% average across Georgia. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Pierce County
Pierce County is a rural county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area. Rural counties tend to have fewer local hospitals and doctors, so a plan’s network and the distance to care matter a great deal.
CMS counts 4,549 Medicare beneficiaries in Pierce County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 12%. 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 Pierce County, CMS reported about 630 emergency room visits and 260 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (560) and higher than it for hospital stays (223). About 11% 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 Pierce County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Pierce County; we help Pierce County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Pierce County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Pierce 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.
Pierce County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Pierce County live in communities such as Blackshear (3,646), Patterson (773), Offerman (460), Waycross (6) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Pierce County include 31516, 31551, 31556, 31557. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Pierce 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Pierce County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Pierce County households, including annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Get a clear answer for Pierce County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Pierce County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Pierce County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banks County | 3,642 | 61.6% | 16% | Rural |
| Berrien County | 3,350 | 59.4% | 21% | Rural |
| Tattnall County | 3,875 | 63.8% | 20% | Rural |
| Screven County | 3,022 | 65.7% | 15% | Rural |
| Jefferson County | 2,890 | 68.2% | 20% | Rural |
| Dooly County | 2,444 | 62.3% | 14% | Rural |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.