Vernon Parish Medicare at a glance
| Vernon Parish | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,645 | 793,655 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 14.4% | 17.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,128 | 977,541 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,975 | 561,903 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 36.6% | 57.5% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Vernon Parish ranks 27th of 64 Louisiana parishes by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 6,645 people in that age group, or 14.4% of residents (statewide: 17.4%). About 2,225 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 57% ages 65 to 74, 33% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 36.6% of Vernon Parish residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 57.5% average across Louisiana. 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 Vernon Parish
Vernon Parish is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 20,000 or more, 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 8,353 Medicare beneficiaries in Vernon Parish (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Louisiana average of 72. About 17% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Vernon Parish, CMS reported about 667 emergency room visits and 231 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (648) and close to 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 Vernon Parish may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Vernon Parish; we help Vernon Parish residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Vernon Parish
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Vernon Parish:
- Byrd Regional Hospital — Leesville (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.
Where people live in Vernon Parish
People in Vernon Parish live in communities such as Leesville (5,408), New Llano (2,085), Rosepine (1,459), Anacoco (810), Simpson (557), DeRidder (436) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Vernon Parish include 70639, 70656, 70659, 71403, 71438, 71439, 71446, 71459, 71461, 71474, 71475. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Vernon 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.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Louisiana Department of Insurance: Louisiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Vernon Parish residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Vernon Parish residents we can compare Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Ready to compare plans in Vernon Parish?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Vernon Parish compared with similar Louisiana parishes
| Parish | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natchitoches Parish | 6,283 | 45.8% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Lincoln Parish | 7,030 | 46.0% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Avoyelles Parish | 7,092 | 47.9% | 28% | Smaller city/town |
| Beauregard Parish | 6,094 | 39.6% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Webster Parish | 7,340 | 49.2% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Evangeline Parish | 5,187 | 44.5% | 29% | Smaller city/town |
See every Louisiana parish in our Louisiana directory or go to our Louisiana Medicare hub.