Craven County Medicare at a glance
| Craven County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 22,151 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.6% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 28,363 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 11,927 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 42.1% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Craven County comes in 25th for residents age 65 and up (22,151). Older adults make up 21.6% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. About 6,910 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 58% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. CMS data show 42.1% of Craven County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 57.9% average across North Carolina. 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 Craven County
The USDA classifies Craven County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 27,648 Medicare beneficiaries in Craven County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 9% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Craven County, CMS reported about 554 emergency room visits and 210 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Craven County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Craven County; we help Craven County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Craven County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Craven County:
- Carolina East Medical Center — New Bern (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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.
Craven County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Craven County live in communities such as New Bern (32,226), Havelock (16,500), Trent Woods (4,106), River Bend (2,921), Vanceboro (877), Cove City (387) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Craven County include 28519, 28523, 28526, 28527, 28532, 28533, 28560, 28562, 28586. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Craven 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 Craven County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Craven County households, including group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Ready to compare plans in Craven County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Craven 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
Craven County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harnett County | 19,862 | 56.4% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Cleveland County | 19,581 | 62.7% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Carteret County | 19,399 | 41.4% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Robeson County | 19,007 | 75.0% | 27% | Smaller city/town |
| Haywood County | 16,420 | 53.9% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Wilkes County | 15,483 | 67.9% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.