The numbers behind Medicare in Rapides Parish
| Rapides Parish | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 22,178 | 793,655 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.6% | 17.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 29,469 | 977,541 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,531 | 561,903 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 42.5% | 57.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 22,178 residents age 65 and older, Rapides Parish is 9th among 64 Louisiana parishes for older residents. That group is 17.6% of its population, compared with 17.4% across Louisiana. About 8,201 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 59% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Rapides Parish is 42.5% of people with Medicare, lower than the Louisiana average of 57.5%. 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 Rapides Parish
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Rapides Parish as a metro county (counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 29,724 Medicare beneficiaries in Rapides Parish (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Louisiana average of 72. About 22% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Rapides Parish, CMS reported about 648 emergency room visits and 280 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (648) and higher than it for hospital stays (237). About 9% 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 Rapides Parish may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Rapides Parish; we help Rapides Parish residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Rapides Parish
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Rapides Parish:
- Alexandria Hospital — Alexandria (acute care; for-profit; emergency services)
- CHRISTUS Central Louisiana Surgical Hospital — Alexandria (acute care; for-profit; no emergency department)
- CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital — Alexandria (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Rapides Regional Medical Center — Alexandria (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Rapides Parish
The largest communities in Rapides Parish by 2023 Census population estimates are Alexandria (43,466), Pineville (14,034), Ball (3,811), Woodworth (1,730), Glenmora (1,046), Boyce (871). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Rapides Parish, that means areas such as 71301, 71302, 71303, 71325, 71328, 71330, 71346, 71359, 71360, 71405, 71409, 71424, 71427, 71430 and 5 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Rapides Parish?
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.
- Louisiana Department of Insurance: Louisiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Rapides Parish residents
Here is what we can help Rapides Parish residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Get a clear answer for Rapides Parish
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Rapides Parish compared with similar Louisiana parishes
| Parish | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangipahoa Parish | 21,576 | 65.4% | 24% | Metro |
| Livingston Parish | 21,341 | 70.0% | 18% | Metro |
| Bossier Parish | 20,693 | 43.5% | 13% | Metro |
| Ouachita Parish | 25,711 | 49.5% | 19% | Metro |
| Ascension Parish | 18,017 | 68.5% | 17% | Metro |
| Terrebonne Parish | 17,018 | 59.5% | 21% | Metro |
See every Louisiana parish in our Louisiana directory or go to our Louisiana Medicare hub.