The numbers behind Medicare in Starke County
| Starke County | Indiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,887 | 1,179,148 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.1% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,298 | 1,432,708 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,125 | 731,624 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 49.6% | 51.1% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Starke County ranks 63rd of 92 Indiana counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 4,887 people in that age group, or 21.1% of residents (statewide: 17.2%). The 1,715 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 62% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 8% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Starke County is 49.6% of people with Medicare, close to the Indiana average of 51.1%. 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 Starke County
Starke County is a rural county (USDA: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area). Plan choices can be narrower than in a city, and we focus on networks that include the doctors and hospital you actually use.
CMS counts 6,291 Medicare beneficiaries in Starke County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the Indiana average of 72. About 17% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 16%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Starke County, CMS reported about 650 emergency room visits and 225 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (619) and close to it for hospital stays (235). About 6% 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 Starke County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Starke County; we help Starke County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Starke County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Starke County:
- Northwest Health - Starke — Knox (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 1 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Starke County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Starke County at Knox (3,599), North Judson (1,813), Hamlet (772), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Starke County include 46366, 46374, 46531, 46532, 46534. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Starke 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.
- Indiana Department of Insurance: Indiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Starke County residents
Here is what we can help Starke County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Let’s check your Starke County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Starke County compared with similar Indiana counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer County | 4,182 | 43.9% | 14% | Rural |
| Orange County | 4,165 | 48.5% | 19% | Rural |
| LaGrange County | 6,108 | 56.1% | 14% | Rural |
| Parke County | 3,492 | 51.6% | 15% | Rural |
| Fountain County | 3,409 | 48.2% | 13% | Rural |
| Pulaski County | 2,707 | 43.8% | 14% | Rural |
See every Indiana county in our Indiana directory or go to our Indiana Medicare hub.