Darlington County Medicare at a glance
| Darlington County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 12,541 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.1% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 16,650 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,326 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 50.0% | 46.7% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Darlington County ranks 23rd of 46 South Carolina counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 12,541 people in that age group, or 20.1% of residents (statewide: 19.3%). The 4,132 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. CMS data show 50.0% of Darlington County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 46.7% average across South 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 Darlington County
Darlington County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 16,720 Medicare beneficiaries in Darlington County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 12% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 7%. 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 Darlington County, CMS reported about 642 emergency room visits and 245 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (563) and higher than it for hospital stays (202). 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 Darlington County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Darlington County; we help Darlington County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Darlington County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Darlington County:
- Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center — Hartsville (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
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 Darlington County
The largest communities in Darlington County by 2023 Census population estimates are Hartsville (7,399), Darlington (6,057), Lamar (843), Society Hill (430). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Darlington County, that means areas such as 29069, 29079, 29532, 29540, 29550, 29593, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Darlington 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.
- South Carolina Department of Insurance: South Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Darlington County residents
Here is what we can help Darlington County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans and ACA health insurance.
Let’s check your Darlington County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Darlington County residents
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Darlington County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens County | 13,209 | 52.7% | 13% | Metro |
| Kershaw County | 13,328 | 48.4% | 7% | Metro |
| Jasper County | 8,375 | 38.7% | 5% | Metro |
| Chester County | 6,384 | 55.0% | 11% | Metro |
| Sumter County | 18,854 | 50.0% | 10% | Metro |
| Union County | 5,904 | 60.6% | 11% | Metro |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.