The numbers behind Medicare in Appling County
| Appling County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 3,538 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.2% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 4,240 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,621 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.8% | 56.2% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Georgia’s 159 counties, Appling County comes in 98th for residents age 65 and up (3,538). Older adults make up 19.2% of the population here; the state figure is 15.4%. Another 1,188 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, 30% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 61.8% of Appling County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher than the 56.2% average across Georgia. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Appling County
Appling County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, not 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 4,227 Medicare beneficiaries in Appling County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 20% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 12%. 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 Appling County, CMS reported about 686 emergency room visits and 213 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (560) and close to it for hospital stays (223). 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 Appling County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Appling County; we help Appling County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Appling County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Appling County:
- Appling Healthcare — Baxley (acute care; government-owned; emergency services)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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.
Appling County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Appling County live in communities such as Baxley (4,945), Graham (264), Surrency (195) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Appling County number 3: 31513, 31518, 31563. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Appling 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Appling County residents
Here is what we can help Appling County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Get a clear answer for Appling County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Appling County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | 3,516 | 63.2% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Washington County | 3,651 | 64.3% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Emanuel County | 3,829 | 67.0% | 24% | Smaller city/town |
| Ben Hill County | 3,222 | 69.4% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
| Mitchell County | 3,891 | 66.7% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Crisp County | 3,973 | 62.9% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.