The numbers behind Medicare in Delta County
| Delta County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,798 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 26.6% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 11,880 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,724 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 56.6% | 63.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Michigan’s 83 counties, Delta County comes in 37th for residents age 65 and up (9,798). Older adults make up 26.6% of the population here; the state figure is 19.2%. Another 3,005 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 60% ages 65 to 74, 29% ages 75 to 84 and 11% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Delta County is 56.6% of people with Medicare, lower than the Michigan average of 63.6%. 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 Delta County
Delta County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, not 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 11,710 Medicare beneficiaries in Delta County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 12% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Delta County, CMS reported about 506 emergency room visits and 147 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (645) and lower than it for hospital stays (245). About 8% 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 Delta County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Delta County; we help Delta County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Delta County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Delta County:
- OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group — Escanaba (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 Delta County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Delta County at Escanaba (12,343), Gladstone (5,237), Garden (187), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Delta County include 49807, 49817, 49829, 49835, 49837, 49864, 49872, 49878, 49894. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Delta 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.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Delta County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Delta County households, including 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 Delta County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Delta County residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Delta County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale County | 10,008 | 67.4% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Isabella County | 9,296 | 59.2% | 26% | Smaller city/town |
| Branch County | 8,995 | 59.5% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Emmet County | 8,819 | 54.0% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Newaygo County | 10,788 | 75.6% | 28% | Smaller city/town |
| Mecosta County | 8,596 | 67.3% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.