Cherokee County Medicare at a glance
| Cherokee County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,460 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.2% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,034 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,953 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.7% | 61.5% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Alabama’s 67 counties, Cherokee County comes in 35th for residents age 65 and up (6,460). Older adults make up 25.2% of the population here; the state figure is 18.3%. About 2,047 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. CMS data show 61.7% of Cherokee County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 61.5% average across Alabama. 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 Cherokee County
Cherokee County is a rural county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area. Rural counties tend to have fewer local hospitals and doctors, so a plan’s network and the distance to care matter a great deal.
CMS counts 7,977 Medicare beneficiaries in Cherokee County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 14%. 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 Cherokee County, CMS reported about 636 emergency room visits and 276 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (600) and close to it for hospital stays (247). About 12% 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 Cherokee County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Cherokee County; we help Cherokee County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Cherokee County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Cherokee County:
- Floyd Cherokee Medical Center — Centre (acute care; for-profit; emergency services)
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.
Where people live in Cherokee County
People in Cherokee County live in communities such as Centre (3,782), Cedar Bluff (1,899), Leesburg (985), Sand Rock (571), Gaylesville (174), Collinsville (12) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Cherokee County number 4: 35959, 35960, 35973, 35983. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Cherokee 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Cherokee County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Cherokee 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).
Let’s check your Cherokee County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Cherokee County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion County | 6,329 | 48.2% | 22% | Rural |
| Winston County | 5,295 | 60.1% | 20% | Rural |
| Randolph County | 4,918 | 59.0% | 18% | Rural |
| Clarke County | 4,683 | 69.3% | 18% | Rural |
| Monroe County | 4,296 | 68.1% | 18% | Rural |
| Fayette County | 3,554 | 62.2% | 21% | Rural |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.