Shelby County Medicare at a glance
| Shelby County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 40,691 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.5% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 46,123 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 28,143 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.0% | 61.5% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 40,691 residents age 65 and older, Shelby County is 5th among 67 Alabama counties for older residents. That group is 17.5% of its population, compared with 18.3% across Alabama. About 14,491 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 31% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. CMS data show 61.0% of Shelby County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 61.5% average across Alabama. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Shelby County
Shelby 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 44,057 Medicare beneficiaries in Shelby County (2023). Their average age is 74, older than the Alabama average of 72. About 6% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Shelby County, CMS reported about 527 emergency room visits and 233 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (600) and close to it for hospital stays (247). 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 Shelby County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Shelby County; we help Shelby County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Shelby County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Shelby County:
- Shelby Baptist Medical Center — Alabaster (acute care; nonprofit; 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 Shelby County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Shelby County at Alabaster (34,107), Hoover (27,359), Pelham (25,121), Helena (19,539), Calera (18,115), Chelsea (16,771), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Shelby County include 35007, 35040, 35043, 35051, 35078, 35080, 35114, 35115, 35124, 35143, 35147, 35176, 35178, 35185 and 3 more. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Shelby 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 Shelby County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Shelby County residents we can compare Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Get a clear answer for Shelby County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Shelby County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 37,666 | 63.3% | 13% | Metro |
| Tuscaloosa County | 34,292 | 59.1% | 18% | Metro |
| Lee County | 25,595 | 58.0% | 12% | Metro |
| Baldwin County | 55,923 | 57.9% | 6% | Metro |
| Morgan County | 23,040 | 55.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Calhoun County | 21,825 | 57.0% | 14% | Metro |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.