The numbers behind Medicare in Wilson County
| Wilson County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 15,309 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.4% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 21,258 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 11,527 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.2% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Wilson County ranks 39th of 100 North Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 15,309 people in that age group, or 19.4% of residents (statewide: 17.6%). Another 5,421 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 59% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 54.2% of Wilson County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 57.9% average across North Carolina. 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 Wilson County
The USDA classifies Wilson County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 19,193 Medicare beneficiaries in Wilson County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Wilson County, CMS reported about 599 emergency room visits and 223 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Wilson County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Wilson County; we help Wilson County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Wilson County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Wilson County:
- Wilson Medical Center — Wilson (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 1 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.
Where people live in Wilson County
The largest communities in Wilson County by 2023 Census population estimates are Wilson (47,833), Elm City (1,214), Lucama (1,046), Stantonsburg (757), Black Creek (690), Sharpsburg (427). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Wilson County include 27813, 27822, 27851, 27873, 27880, 27893, 27896. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Wilson 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 Wilson County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Wilson 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.
Ready to compare plans in Wilson 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
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare 101 for families
Wilson County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surry County | 15,258 | 74.2% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Wilkes County | 15,483 | 67.9% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Rutherford County | 14,799 | 59.1% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Haywood County | 16,420 | 53.9% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Stanly County | 12,595 | 64.3% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Lenoir County | 11,901 | 57.8% | 25% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.