Medicare in Chatham County by the numbers
| Chatham County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 52,167 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.2% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 57,612 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 31,677 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 55.0% | 56.2% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 52,167 residents age 65 and older, Chatham County is 5th among 159 Georgia counties for older residents. That group is 17.2% of its population, compared with 15.4% across Georgia. About 18,420 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 59% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 55.0% of people with Medicare in Chatham County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Georgia average of 56.2%. 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 Chatham County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Chatham County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 57,307 Medicare beneficiaries in Chatham County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 9% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 12%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Chatham County, CMS reported about 541 emergency room visits and 212 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (560) and close to it for hospital stays (223). 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 Chatham County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Chatham County; we help Chatham County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Chatham County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Chatham County:
- Candler Hospital — Savannah (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
- Memorial Health University Medical Center — Savannah (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 1 of 5)
- St. Joseph's Hospital - Savannah — Savannah (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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 Chatham County
People in Chatham County live in communities such as Savannah (147,748), Pooler (29,544), Port Wentworth (14,468), Garden City (10,373), Bloomingdale (3,129), Tybee Island (3,119) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Chatham County include 31302, 31322, 31328, 31401, 31404, 31405, 31406, 31407, 31408, 31409, 31410, 31411, 31415, 31419 and 1 more. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Chatham 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Chatham County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Chatham County residents we can compare 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 Chatham County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Chatham County residents
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
Chatham County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 47,079 | 47.1% | 5% | Metro |
| Hall County | 36,099 | 49.9% | 9% | Metro |
| Forsyth County | 35,430 | 45.1% | 5% | Metro |
| Clayton County | 33,424 | 67.3% | 21% | Metro |
| Richmond County | 32,308 | 61.3% | 14% | Metro |
| Henry County | 32,259 | 63.1% | 12% | Metro |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.