Effingham County Medicare at a glance
| Effingham County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,152 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 12.8% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 12,082 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,454 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 53.4% | 56.2% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Effingham County ranks 42nd of 159 Georgia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 9,152 people in that age group, or 12.8% of residents (statewide: 15.4%). About 4,115 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 65% ages 65 to 74, 28% ages 75 to 84 and 7% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Effingham County is 53.4% of people with Medicare, close to the Georgia average of 56.2%. 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 Effingham County
Effingham 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 11,528 Medicare beneficiaries in Effingham County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 10% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 12%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Effingham County, CMS reported about 566 emergency room visits and 191 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (560) and lower than it for hospital stays (223). About 7% 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 Effingham County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Effingham County; we help Effingham County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Effingham County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Effingham County:
- Effingham Health System — Springfield (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
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.
Where people live in Effingham County
The largest communities in Effingham County by 2023 Census population estimates are Rincon (11,624), Springfield (3,284), Guyton (2,925). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Effingham County include 31303, 31307, 31312, 31318, 31326, 31329. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Effingham 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Effingham County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Effingham County households, including 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 Effingham County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Effingham County residents
- 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
Effingham County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickens County | 8,365 | 46.7% | 8% | Metro |
| Oconee County | 7,902 | 40.9% | 4% | Metro |
| Harris County | 7,362 | 46.6% | 7% | Metro |
| Liberty County | 7,169 | 59.1% | 11% | Metro |
| Lumpkin County | 6,662 | 48.6% | 10% | Metro |
| Murray County | 6,583 | 51.2% | 23% | Metro |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.