The numbers behind Medicare in DeKalb County
| DeKalb County | Indiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,822 | 1,179,148 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 17.7% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 10,107 | 1,432,708 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,787 | 731,624 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 67.2% | 51.1% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
DeKalb County ranks 38th of 92 Indiana counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 7,822 people in that age group, or 17.7% of residents (statewide: 17.2%). About 2,964 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 60% ages 65 to 74, 30% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in DeKalb County is 67.2% of people with Medicare, higher than the Indiana average of 51.1%. 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 DeKalb County
DeKalb County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 20,000 or more, 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 9,816 Medicare beneficiaries in DeKalb County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the Indiana average of 72. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 16%.
Among people in Original Medicare in DeKalb County, CMS reported about 658 emergency room visits and 255 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (619) and close to it for hospital stays (235). About 5% 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:
- Parkview Dekalb Hospital — Auburn (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in DeKalb County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in DeKalb County at Auburn (13,888), Garrett (6,661), Butler (2,679), Waterloo (2,157), Ashley (680), St. Joe (423), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside DeKalb County include 46705, 46706, 46721, 46730, 46738, 46785, 46788, 46793. 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.
- Indiana Department of Insurance: Indiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer DeKalb County residents
Here is what we can help DeKalb County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Let’s check your DeKalb County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
DeKalb County compared with similar Indiana counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steuben County | 7,925 | 64.8% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Jackson County | 7,953 | 61.0% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Montgomery County | 7,438 | 51.7% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Dubois County | 8,429 | 25.0% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Cass County | 7,194 | 49.4% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Noble County | 8,530 | 63.9% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
See every Indiana county in our Indiana directory or go to our Indiana Medicare hub.