The numbers behind Medicare in St. Mary Parish
| St. Mary Parish | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,165 | 793,655 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.5% | 17.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 11,746 | 977,541 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,204 | 561,903 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.3% | 57.5% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Louisiana’s 64 parishes, St. Mary Parish comes in 20th for residents age 65 and up (9,165). Older adults make up 19.5% of the population here; the state figure is 17.4%. Another 3,508 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 59% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 11% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 61.3% of people with Medicare in St. Mary Parish are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Louisiana average of 57.5%. 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 St. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 11,642 Medicare beneficiaries in St. Mary 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 St. Mary Parish, CMS reported about 758 emergency room visits and 205 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (648) and lower than it for hospital stays (237). About 11% 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 St. Mary Parish may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in St. Mary Parish; we help St. Mary Parish residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in St. Mary Parish
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in St. Mary Parish:
- Bayou Bend Health System — Franklin (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
- Ochsner St. Mary — Morgan City (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
Where people live in St. Mary Parish
People in St. Mary Parish live in communities such as Morgan City (10,873), Franklin (6,341), Patterson (5,636), Berwick (4,531), Baldwin (1,679) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within St. Mary Parish number 7: 70340, 70342, 70392, 70514, 70522, 70523, 70538. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in St. Mary 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.
- 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.
- Louisiana Department of Insurance: Louisiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer St. Mary Parish residents
Here is what we can help St. Mary Parish 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 St. Mary Parish
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
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St. Mary Parish compared with similar Louisiana parishes
| Parish | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Parish | 8,827 | 61.1% | 29% | Smaller city/town |
| Webster Parish | 7,340 | 49.2% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Avoyelles Parish | 7,092 | 47.9% | 28% | Smaller city/town |
| Lincoln Parish | 7,030 | 46.0% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Iberia Parish | 11,663 | 53.5% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| Vernon Parish | 6,645 | 36.6% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
See every Louisiana parish in our Louisiana directory or go to our Louisiana Medicare hub.