Garrett County Medicare at a glance
| Garrett County | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,163 | 1,066,384 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.2% | 17.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,060 | 1,206,222 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,778 | 298,863 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 22.1% | 24.8% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Maryland’s 24 counties, Garrett County comes in 21st for residents age 65 and up (7,163). Older adults make up 25.2% of the population here; the state figure is 17.3%. About 2,442 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 57% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 11% is 85 or older. CMS data show 22.1% of Garrett County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 24.8% average across Maryland. 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 Garrett County
Garrett County is a rural county (USDA: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area). Plan choices can be narrower than in a city, and we focus on networks that include the doctors and hospital you actually use.
CMS counts 7,935 Medicare beneficiaries in Garrett County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Maryland average of 73. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 17%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Garrett County, CMS reported about 655 emergency room visits and 211 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (555) and close to it for hospital stays (217). 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 Garrett County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Garrett County; we help Garrett County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Garrett County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Garrett County:
- Garrett Regional Medical Center — Oakland (acute care; 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 Garrett County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Garrett County at Mountain Lake Park (2,117), Oakland (1,820), Grantsville (958), Loch Lynn Heights (485), Friendsville (428), Accident (330), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Garrett County number 11: 21520, 21521, 21523, 21531, 21536, 21538, 21539, 21541, 21550, 21561, 21562. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Garrett 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.
- Maryland Health Connection, Maryland’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.
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Maryland’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Garrett County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Garrett County residents we can compare Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Ready to compare plans in Garrett County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
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
Garrett County compared with similar Maryland counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County | 7,760 | 26.2% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| Caroline County | 5,995 | 23.7% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Kent County | 5,519 | 18.3% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Somerset County | 4,555 | 30.4% | 28% | Metro |
| Queen Anne's County | 11,200 | 17.1% | 10% | Metro |
| Talbot County | 11,522 | 15.8% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
See every Maryland county in our Maryland directory or go to our Maryland Medicare hub.