The numbers behind Medicare in Colbert County
| Colbert County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 12,238 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.0% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 14,817 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,529 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.6% | 61.5% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 12,238 residents age 65 and older, Colbert County is 22nd among 67 Alabama counties for older residents. That group is 21.0% of its population, compared with 18.3% across Alabama. The 3,983 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 58% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 11% is 85 or older. About 57.6% of people with Medicare in Colbert County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Alabama average of 61.5%. 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 Colbert County
Colbert County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 15,108 Medicare beneficiaries in Colbert County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Colbert County, CMS reported about 612 emergency room visits and 256 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Colbert County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Colbert County; we help Colbert County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Colbert County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Colbert County:
- Helen Keller Hospital — Sheffield (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
- North Alabama Shoals Hospital — Muscle Shoals (acute care; for-profit; emergency services)
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.
Where people live in Colbert County
People in Colbert County live in communities such as Muscle Shoals (17,210), Sheffield (9,307), Tuscumbia (9,169), Littleville (1,045), Cherokee (966), Leighton (653) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Colbert County number 5: 35616, 35646, 35660, 35661, 35674. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Colbert 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Colbert County residents
Here is what we can help Colbert County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Get a clear answer for Colbert County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare 101 for families
Colbert County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker County | 12,984 | 68.0% | 15% | Metro |
| Blount County | 11,481 | 68.1% | 12% | Metro |
| Autauga County | 10,127 | 62.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Russell County | 9,408 | 58.3% | 14% | Metro |
| Elmore County | 15,445 | 60.7% | 9% | Metro |
| Chilton County | 8,152 | 72.9% | 12% | Metro |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.