The numbers behind Medicare in Stephens County
| Stephens County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 5,781 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.2% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 7,387 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,337 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 58.7% | 56.2% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 5,781 residents age 65 and older, Stephens County is 65th among 159 Georgia counties for older residents. That group is 21.2% of its population, compared with 15.4% across Georgia. Another 1,781 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, 59% are 65 to 74, 32% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 58.7% of Stephens County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 56.2% average across Georgia. 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 Stephens County
Stephens County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, not adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 7,582 Medicare beneficiaries in Stephens County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 12%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Stephens County, CMS reported about 702 emergency room visits and 257 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (560) and higher than it for hospital stays (223). 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Stephens County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Stephens County; we help Stephens County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Stephens County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Stephens County:
- Stephens County Hospital — Toccoa (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Stephens County
People in Stephens County live in communities such as Toccoa (9,303), Martin (340), Avalon (238) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Stephens County, that means areas such as 30538, 30577, 30598, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Stephens 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Stephens County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Stephens County residents we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Ready to compare plans in Stephens County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Stephens County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter County | 5,305 | 66.3% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Upson County | 5,303 | 65.3% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Hart County | 6,331 | 54.0% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Decatur County | 5,200 | 61.9% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Ware County | 6,373 | 59.9% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Coffee County | 6,393 | 62.7% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.