Medicare in Emmet County by the numbers
| Emmet County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 8,819 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.8% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 10,679 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 5,771 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.0% | 63.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Michigan’s 83 counties, Emmet County comes in 41st for residents age 65 and up (8,819). Older adults make up 25.8% of the population here; the state figure is 19.2%. Another 2,777 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 61% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 54.0% of people with Medicare in Emmet County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is 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 Emmet County
Emmet County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, not 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 10,430 Medicare beneficiaries in Emmet County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Emmet County, CMS reported about 540 emergency room visits and 182 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 6% 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 Emmet County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Emmet County; we help Emmet County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Emmet County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Emmet County:
- McLaren Northern Michigan — Petoskey (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Emmet County
People in Emmet County live in communities such as Petoskey (5,846), Harbor Springs (1,270), Pellston (807), Alanson (779), Mackinaw City (566) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Emmet County number 10: 49701, 49706, 49716, 49718, 49722, 49740, 49755, 49764, 49769, 49770. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Emmet 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.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Emmet County residents
Here is what we can help Emmet County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Let’s check your Emmet County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Emmet County residents
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Emmet County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branch County | 8,995 | 59.5% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Mecosta County | 8,596 | 67.3% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Isabella County | 9,296 | 59.2% | 26% | Smaller city/town |
| Roscommon County | 8,296 | 64.9% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Iosco County | 7,982 | 59.3% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Delta County | 9,798 | 56.6% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.