The numbers behind Medicare in DeKalb County
| DeKalb County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 13,132 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.1% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 16,728 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 9,693 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.9% | 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 13,132 residents age 65 and older, DeKalb County is 20th among 67 Alabama counties for older residents. That group is 18.1% of its population, compared with 18.3% across Alabama. The 4,672 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in DeKalb County is 57.9% of people with Medicare, close to the Alabama average of 61.5%. 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 DeKalb County
The USDA classifies DeKalb County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, 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 16,539 Medicare beneficiaries in DeKalb County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 20% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 14%. 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 DeKalb County, CMS reported about 535 emergency room visits and 223 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in DeKalb County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in DeKalb County; we help DeKalb County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in DeKalb County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in DeKalb County:
- Dekalb Regional Medical Center — Fort Payne (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
DeKalb County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in DeKalb County by 2023 Census population estimates are Fort Payne (14,957), Rainsville (5,768), Henagar (2,305), Collinsville (2,052), Crossville (1,838), Sylvania (1,809). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside DeKalb County include 35961, 35962, 35963, 35967, 35968, 35971, 35974, 35975, 35978, 35979, 35981, 35984, 35986, 35988 and 1 more. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for DeKalb 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.
Get a clear answer for DeKalb County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for DeKalb County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare 101 for families
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
DeKalb County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 11,383 | 57.1% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Talladega County | 16,185 | 68.2% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Tallapoosa County | 9,836 | 60.9% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Coffee County | 9,764 | 54.3% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Dale County | 9,256 | 57.6% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Marshall County | 17,500 | 57.4% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.