Medicare in Washtenaw County by the numbers
| Washtenaw County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 60,189 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 16.5% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 69,927 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 41,529 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 59.4% | 63.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Michigan’s 83 counties, Washtenaw County comes in 6th for residents age 65 and up (60,189). Older adults make up 16.5% of the population here; the state figure is 19.2%. About 20,236 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 58% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 59.4% of Washtenaw County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 63.6% average across Michigan. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Washtenaw County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Washtenaw County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 68,205 Medicare beneficiaries in Washtenaw County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Washtenaw County, CMS reported about 566 emergency room visits and 232 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (645) and close to it for hospital stays (245). About 8% 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Washtenaw County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Washtenaw County; we help Washtenaw County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Washtenaw County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Washtenaw County:
- Chelsea Hospital — Chelsea (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
- Forest Health Medical Center — Ypsilanti (acute care; government-owned; no emergency department)
- Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital — Ann Arbor (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
- University of Michigan Health System — Ann Arbor (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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 Washtenaw County
The largest communities in Washtenaw County by 2023 Census population estimates are Ann Arbor (119,381), Ypsilanti (19,393), Saline (9,006), Chelsea (5,364), Dexter (4,509), Milan (3,776). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Washtenaw County number 14: 48103, 48104, 48105, 48108, 48109, 48118, 48130, 48158, 48176, 48189, 48190, 48191, 48197, 48198. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Washtenaw 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.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Washtenaw County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Washtenaw County households, including final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Let’s check your Washtenaw County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Washtenaw County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottawa County | 52,010 | 77.3% | 17% | Metro |
| Kalamazoo County | 43,432 | 65.8% | 15% | Metro |
| Ingham County | 43,269 | 67.1% | 34% | Metro |
| Genesee County | 77,829 | 69.7% | 22% | Metro |
| Livingston County | 40,325 | 55.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Saginaw County | 39,113 | 68.3% | 21% | Metro |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.