The numbers behind Medicare in Vance County
| Vance County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 8,388 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.8% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 11,051 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,556 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 68.4% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Vance County comes in 64th for residents age 65 and up (8,388). Older adults make up 19.8% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. The 2,791 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 59% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 68.4% of Vance County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher than the 57.9% average across North Carolina. 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 Vance County
Vance County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, 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 11,154 Medicare beneficiaries in Vance County (2023). Their average age is 71, younger than the North Carolina average of 73. About 27% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 13%. 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 Vance County, CMS reported about 747 emergency room visits and 218 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). About 7% 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 Vance County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Vance County; we help Vance County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Vance County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Vance County:
- Maria Parham Medical Center — Henderson (acute care; for-profit; 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 Vance County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Vance County at Henderson (14,857), Kittrell (127), Middleburg (103), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Vance County number 5: 27536, 27537, 27544, 27556, 27584. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Vance 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Vance County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Vance County households, including Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Let’s check your Vance County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Vance County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare 101 for families
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Vance County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasquotank County | 7,885 | 45.5% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Richmond County | 7,848 | 63.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Jackson County | 9,174 | 49.7% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Watauga County | 9,655 | 46.9% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Dare County | 9,720 | 25.6% | 5% | Smaller city/town |
| McDowell County | 9,864 | 64.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.