The numbers behind Medicare in Dare County
| Dare County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,720 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.5% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 11,449 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,935 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 25.6% | 57.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Dare County comes in 59th for residents age 65 and up (9,720). Older adults make up 25.5% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. Another 3,583 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 65% ages 65 to 74, 28% ages 75 to 84 and 7% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Dare County is 25.6% of people with Medicare, lower than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Dare County
Dare County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 10,987 Medicare beneficiaries in Dare County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 5% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Dare County, CMS reported about 579 emergency room visits and 164 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Dare County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Dare County; we help Dare County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Dare County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Dare County:
- The Outer Banks Hospital — Nags Head (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.
Where people live in Dare County
The largest communities in Dare County by 2023 Census population estimates are Kill Devil Hills (7,778), Kitty Hawk (3,713), Nags Head (3,142), Southern Shores (3,138), Manteo (1,610), Duck (744). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Dare County number 14: 27915, 27920, 27936, 27943, 27948, 27949, 27953, 27954, 27959, 27968, 27972, 27978, 27981, 27982. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Dare 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 Dare County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Dare 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 Dare County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Dare County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga County | 9,655 | 46.9% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| McDowell County | 9,864 | 64.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Jackson County | 9,174 | 49.7% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Halifax County | 10,598 | 61.6% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Columbus County | 10,623 | 60.3% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Transylvania County | 10,797 | 51.3% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.