Burke County Medicare at a glance
| Burke County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,468 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.3% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 5,606 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,829 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 68.3% | 56.2% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Georgia’s 159 counties, Burke County comes in 84th for residents age 65 and up (4,468). Older adults make up 18.3% of the population here; the state figure is 15.4%. About 1,730 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 63% are 65 to 74, 29% are 75 to 84 and 7% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 68.3% of Burke County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher than the 56.2% average across Georgia. 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 Burke County
Burke County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 5,332 Medicare beneficiaries in Burke County (2023). Their average age is 71, younger than the Georgia average of 73. About 16% 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 Burke County, CMS reported about 647 emergency room visits and 231 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Burke County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Burke County; we help Burke County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Burke County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Burke County:
- Burke Medical Center — Waynesboro (acute care; for-profit; no emergency department)
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.
Burke County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Burke County at Waynesboro (5,607), Sardis (999), Midville (381), Keysville (307), Girard (182), Vidette (102), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Burke County include 30426, 30456, 30816, 30830. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Burke 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 Burke County residents
Here is what we can help Burke County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Get a clear answer for Burke County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Burke County residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Burke County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meriwether County | 4,493 | 66.6% | 20% | Metro |
| Morgan County | 4,497 | 56.5% | 10% | Metro |
| Butts County | 4,275 | 67.3% | 14% | Metro |
| McDuffie County | 4,251 | 66.4% | 14% | Metro |
| Worth County | 4,222 | 63.2% | 14% | Metro |
| Lee County | 4,968 | 55.1% | 10% | Metro |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.