The numbers behind Medicare in Alpena County
| Alpena County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,403 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.6% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 9,662 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 5,562 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.6% | 63.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 7,403 residents age 65 and older, Alpena County is 51st among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 25.6% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. About 2,502 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 59% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Alpena County is 57.6% of people with Medicare, lower than the Michigan average of 63.6%. 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 Alpena County
The USDA classifies Alpena County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, not 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 9,668 Medicare beneficiaries in Alpena County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 21% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Alpena County, CMS reported about 626 emergency room visits and 203 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (645) and lower than it for hospital stays (245). 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 Alpena County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Alpena County; we help Alpena County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Alpena County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Alpena County:
- Mymichigan Medical Center Alpena — Alpena (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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 Alpena County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Alpena County at Alpena (10,130), Hillman (2), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Alpena County include 49707, 49744, 49753, 49766. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Alpena 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.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Alpena County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Alpena County households, including life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Let’s check your Alpena County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Alpena County residents
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Alpena County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlevoix County | 7,377 | 56.6% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Gratiot County | 7,437 | 67.6% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| Manistee County | 7,368 | 63.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Chippewa County | 7,207 | 56.1% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Wexford County | 7,189 | 65.5% | 25% | Smaller city/town |
| Cheboygan County | 7,676 | 57.2% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.