Medicare in Chatham County by the numbers
| Chatham County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 21,174 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.9% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 24,308 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,056 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 49.6% | 57.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 21,174 residents age 65 and older, Chatham County is 26th among 100 North Carolina counties for older residents. That group is 25.9% of its population, compared with 17.6% across North Carolina. The 6,292 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 54% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 35% is 75 to 84 and 11% is 85 or older. CMS data show 49.6% of Chatham County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 57.9% average across North Carolina. 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 22,099 Medicare beneficiaries in Chatham County (2023). Their average age is 75, older than the North Carolina average of 73. About 6% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Chatham County, CMS reported about 414 emergency room visits and 161 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (572) and lower than it for hospital stays (210). 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Chatham County can be different from the ones offered next door. 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 this hospital in Chatham County:
- Chatham Hospital — Siler City (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Chatham County at Siler City (8,043), Pittsboro (4,839), Cary (3,946), Goldston (250), Apex (7), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Chatham County number 11: 27207, 27208, 27213, 27252, 27256, 27312, 27344, 27517, 27523, 27559, 27562. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
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.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Chatham County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Chatham County households, including Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
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
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Chatham County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 20,839 | 58.2% | 17% | Metro |
| Rockingham County | 20,123 | 76.8% | 21% | Metro |
| Onslow County | 22,467 | 45.0% | 12% | Metro |
| Burke County | 19,499 | 65.2% | 19% | Metro |
| Nash County | 19,132 | 60.0% | 14% | Metro |
| Lincoln County | 18,924 | 61.1% | 10% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.