Medicare in Richland County
Richland County includes Columbia, the county seat and state capital. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimates put the county's 65-and-older population at 61,710 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 population estimates). Hospital care for many residents runs through Prisma Health Richland Hospital in Columbia.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so a plan offered in one part of South Carolina may not be offered in Richland County. We check what is available at your ZIP code and whether your doctors and hospitals are in the plan's network before you enroll. Honorbrook is based in Tysons, Virginia, and works with Richland County residents by phone or video.
The numbers behind Medicare in Richland County
| Richland County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 61,710 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 14.5% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 80,443 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 34,637 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 43.1% | 46.7% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 61,710 residents age 65 and older, Richland County is 4th among 46 South Carolina counties for older residents. That group is 14.5% of its population, compared with 19.3% across South Carolina. Another 23,585 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 62% ages 65 to 74, 30% ages 75 to 84 and 8% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Richland County is 43.1% 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 Richland County
Richland County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 76,723 Medicare beneficiaries in Richland County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 7% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 7%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Richland County, CMS reported about 519 emergency room visits and 186 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 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Richland County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Richland County at Columbia (141,793), Forest Acres (10,376), Irmo (7,819), Blythewood (6,140), Arcadia Lakes (854), Eastover (621), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Richland County, that means areas such as 29016, 29044, 29052, 29061, 29063, 29177, 29201, 29203, 29204, 29205, 29206, 29207, 29208, 29209 and 4 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about your Medicare options?
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 Richland County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Richland County residents we can compare 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 Richland County options together
We will confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, by phone or video.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Richland County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg County | 58,315 | 54.3% | 9% | Metro |
| Beaufort County | 58,041 | 32.6% | 2% | Metro |
| Lexington County | 54,364 | 42.3% | 6% | Metro |
| York County | 47,392 | 46.5% | 6% | Metro |
| Charleston County | 78,368 | 35.9% | 5% | Metro |
| Anderson County | 39,704 | 53.7% | 7% | Metro |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.