Medicare in Russell County by the numbers
| Russell County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,408 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 16.0% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 12,925 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,538 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 58.3% | 61.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Alabama’s 67 counties, Russell County comes in 28th for residents age 65 and up (9,408). Older adults make up 16.0% of the population here; the state figure is 18.3%. The 3,855 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 62% ages 65 to 74, 29% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 58.3% of Russell County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 61.5% average across Alabama. 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 Russell County
Russell 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 12,461 Medicare beneficiaries in Russell County (2023). Their average age is 70, younger than the Alabama average of 72. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Russell County, CMS reported about 612 emergency room visits and 225 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (600) and close to it for hospital stays (247). 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Russell County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Russell County; we help Russell County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Russell County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Russell County:
- Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital — Phenix City (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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.
Russell County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Russell County live in communities such as Phenix City (31,717), Hurtsboro (340) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Russell County include 36851, 36856, 36858, 36860, 36867, 36869, 36871, 36875. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Russell 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Russell County residents
Here is what we can help Russell County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Get a clear answer for Russell County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Russell County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autauga County | 10,127 | 62.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Chilton County | 8,152 | 72.9% | 12% | Metro |
| Blount County | 11,481 | 68.1% | 12% | Metro |
| Colbert County | 12,238 | 57.6% | 14% | Metro |
| Lawrence County | 6,433 | 58.0% | 16% | Metro |
| Walker County | 12,984 | 68.0% | 15% | Metro |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.