Medicare in Grand Traverse County by the numbers
| Grand Traverse County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 21,990 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 22.8% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 27,016 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 17,475 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 64.7% | 63.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 21,990 residents age 65 and older, Grand Traverse County is 21st among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 22.8% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. About 7,299 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 60% are 65 to 74, 30% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Grand Traverse County is 64.7% of people with Medicare, close to 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 Grand Traverse County
Grand Traverse County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 25,599 Medicare beneficiaries in Grand Traverse County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Grand Traverse County, CMS reported about 467 emergency room visits and 192 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Grand Traverse County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Grand Traverse County; we help Grand Traverse County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Grand Traverse County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Grand Traverse County:
- Munson Medical Center — Traverse City (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.
Grand Traverse County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Grand Traverse County by 2023 Census population estimates are Traverse City (15,359), Kingsley (1,436), Fife Lake (469). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Grand Traverse County include 49620, 49637, 49649, 49685, 49686, 49690, 49696. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Grand Traverse 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 Grand Traverse County residents
Here is what we can help Grand Traverse 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.
Let’s check your Grand Traverse County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Grand Traverse County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton County | 22,427 | 72.1% | 20% | Metro |
| Bay County | 22,983 | 63.7% | 22% | Metro |
| Calhoun County | 25,294 | 55.9% | 15% | Metro |
| Lapeer County | 18,481 | 62.8% | 17% | Metro |
| Midland County | 17,470 | 64.9% | 22% | Metro |
| Clinton County | 15,530 | 71.3% | 17% | Metro |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.