Columbus County Medicare at a glance
| Columbus County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 10,623 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.2% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 13,866 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,364 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 60.3% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 10,623 residents age 65 and older, Columbus County is 52nd among 100 North Carolina counties for older residents. That group is 21.2% of its population, compared with 17.6% across North Carolina. The 3,480 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 57% are 65 to 74, 34% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 60.3% of people with Medicare in Columbus County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the North Carolina average of 57.9%. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Columbus County
Columbus County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 14,021 Medicare beneficiaries in Columbus County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 13%. 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 Columbus County, CMS reported about 664 emergency room visits and 222 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). About 9% 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 Columbus County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Columbus County; we help Columbus County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Columbus County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Columbus County:
- Columbus Regional Healthcare System — Whiteville (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 1 of 5)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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 Columbus County
People in Columbus County live in communities such as Whiteville (4,677), Tabor City (3,670), Chadbourn (1,544), Lake Waccamaw (1,255), Brunswick (1,070), Fair Bluff (737) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Columbus County, that means areas such as 28423, 28424, 28430, 28431, 28432, 28436, 28438, 28439, 28442, 28450, 28455, 28463, 28472, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Columbus 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Columbus County residents
Here is what we can help Columbus County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Ready to compare plans in Columbus County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Columbus County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax County | 10,598 | 61.6% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Transylvania County | 10,797 | 51.3% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Sampson County | 10,961 | 63.9% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Macon County | 11,200 | 45.6% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| McDowell County | 9,864 | 64.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Granville County | 11,428 | 57.4% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.