Medicare in Rowan County by the numbers
| Rowan County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 27,394 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.1% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 35,149 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 23,038 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 65.5% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Rowan County comes in 20th for residents age 65 and up (27,394). Older adults make up 18.1% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. Another 10,489 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, 60% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Rowan County is 65.5% of people with Medicare, higher than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Rowan County
Rowan County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 34,338 Medicare beneficiaries in Rowan County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 13% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Rowan County, CMS reported about 582 emergency room visits and 244 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and higher than it for hospital stays (210). 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Rowan County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Rowan County; we help Rowan County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Rowan County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Rowan County:
- Novant Health Rowan Medical Center — Salisbury (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan before you enroll. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Rowan County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Rowan County live in communities such as Salisbury (36,319), Kannapolis (10,957), China Grove (4,572), Landis (3,803), Spencer (3,354), Granite Quarry (3,068) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Rowan County include 27013, 27054, 28023, 28039, 28041, 28071, 28072, 28088, 28125, 28138, 28144, 28146, 28147, 28159. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Rowan 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Rowan County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Rowan 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.
Ready to compare plans in Rowan County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Rowan County residents
- 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?
Rowan County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph County | 27,575 | 72.5% | 17% | Metro |
| Pitt County | 26,398 | 56.8% | 17% | Metro |
| Moore County | 25,839 | 50.6% | 7% | Metro |
| Orange County | 25,228 | 52.0% | 9% | Metro |
| Alamance County | 31,260 | 71.4% | 16% | Metro |
| Catawba County | 31,389 | 59.5% | 14% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.