Gaston County Medicare at a glance
| Gaston County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 39,774 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 16.8% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 50,182 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 31,874 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 63.5% | 57.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Gaston County comes in 10th for residents age 65 and up (39,774). Older adults make up 16.8% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. About 15,422 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 31% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Gaston County is 63.5% of people with Medicare, higher than the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Gaston County
Gaston County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 49,495 Medicare beneficiaries in Gaston County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Gaston County, CMS reported about 640 emergency room visits and 258 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (572) and higher than it for hospital stays (210). About 10% 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 Gaston County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Gaston County; we help Gaston County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Gaston County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Gaston County:
- Caromont Regional Medical Center — Gastonia (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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.
Gaston County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Gaston County at Gastonia (83,942), Mount Holly (18,373), Belmont (15,515), Cherryville (6,278), Dallas (6,156), Bessemer City (5,625), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Gaston County, that means areas such as 28006, 28012, 28016, 28032, 28034, 28052, 28054, 28056, 28077, 28098, 28101, 28120, 28164, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Gaston 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.
- North Carolina Department of Insurance: North Carolina’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Gaston County residents
Here is what we can help Gaston County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Ready to compare plans in Gaston County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Gaston County residents
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Gaston County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | 35,466 | 53.3% | 9% | Metro |
| Cumberland County | 44,854 | 58.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Iredell County | 34,075 | 60.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Johnston County | 33,935 | 56.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Davidson County | 33,888 | 71.4% | 13% | Metro |
| Cabarrus County | 33,340 | 63.1% | 11% | Metro |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.