Dorchester County Medicare at a glance
| Dorchester County | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 26,553 | 1,037,931 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.6% | 19.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 34,414 | 1,294,203 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 14,872 | 604,910 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 43.2% | 46.7% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among South Carolina’s 46 counties, Dorchester County comes in 12th for residents age 65 and up (26,553). Older adults make up 15.6% of the population here; the state figure is 19.3%. About 10,574 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 61% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 30% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. CMS data show 43.2% of Dorchester County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 46.7% average across South Carolina. 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 Dorchester County
Dorchester County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 32,354 Medicare beneficiaries in Dorchester County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the South Carolina average of 73. About 7% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 7%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Dorchester County, CMS reported about 613 emergency room visits and 216 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (563) and close to 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Dorchester County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Dorchester County; we help Dorchester County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Dorchester County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Dorchester County:
- Roper St. Francis Hospital-Berkeley — Summerville (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Dorchester County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Dorchester County at Summerville (43,647), North Charleston (29,806), St. George (1,834), Ridgeville (1,629), Harleyville (718), Reevesville (195), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Dorchester County number 8: 29420, 29437, 29448, 29471, 29472, 29477, 29483, 29485. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Dorchester 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 Dorchester County residents
Here is what we can help Dorchester County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Get a clear answer for Dorchester 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
Dorchester County compared with similar South Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence County | 25,047 | 47.0% | 12% | Metro |
| Pickens County | 23,861 | 55.2% | 7% | Metro |
| Lancaster County | 23,409 | 45.2% | 5% | Metro |
| Sumter County | 18,854 | 50.0% | 10% | Metro |
| Aiken County | 37,638 | 43.6% | 6% | Metro |
| Berkeley County | 38,856 | 44.3% | 5% | Metro |
See every South Carolina county in our South Carolina directory or go to our South Carolina Medicare hub.