Medicare in Wayne County by the numbers
| Wayne County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 20,839 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.6% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 26,315 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 15,311 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 58.2% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Wayne County ranks 27th of 100 North Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 20,839 people in that age group, or 17.6% of residents (statewide: 17.6%). Another 7,407 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 30% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. About 58.2% of people with Medicare in Wayne County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Wayne County
Wayne County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 26,624 Medicare beneficiaries in Wayne County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 17% 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 Wayne County, CMS reported about 575 emergency room visits and 245 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and higher than it for hospital stays (210). 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Wayne County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Wayne County; we help Wayne County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Wayne County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Wayne County:
- UNC Health Care Wayne — Goldsboro (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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 Wayne County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Wayne County at Goldsboro (33,469), Mount Olive (4,253), Fremont (1,199), Walnut Creek (1,098), Pikeville (719), Eureka (215), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Wayne County, that means areas such as 27530, 27531, 27533, 27534, 27830, 27863, 28333, 28578, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Wayne 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.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Wayne County residents
Here is what we can help Wayne County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Get a clear answer for Wayne County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
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Wayne County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham County | 21,174 | 49.6% | 6% | Metro |
| Rockingham County | 20,123 | 76.8% | 21% | Metro |
| Burke County | 19,499 | 65.2% | 19% | Metro |
| Onslow County | 22,467 | 45.0% | 12% | Metro |
| Nash County | 19,132 | 60.0% | 14% | Metro |
| Lincoln County | 18,924 | 61.1% | 10% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.