Medicare in Haywood County by the numbers
| Haywood County | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 16,420 | 1,908,489 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 26.1% | 17.6% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 19,653 | 2,336,840 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 10,600 | 1,353,169 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 53.9% | 57.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among North Carolina’s 100 counties, Haywood County comes in 37th for residents age 65 and up (16,420). Older adults make up 26.1% of the population here; the state figure is 17.6%. The 4,966 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 57% ages 65 to 74, 33% ages 75 to 84 and 11% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 53.9% of people with Medicare in Haywood County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the North Carolina average of 57.9%. 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 Haywood County
The USDA classifies Haywood County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 19,780 Medicare beneficiaries in Haywood County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the North Carolina average of 73. About 12% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 13%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Haywood County, CMS reported about 485 emergency room visits and 195 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (572) and close to it for hospital stays (210). About 8% 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Haywood County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Haywood County; we help Haywood County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Haywood County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Haywood County:
- Haywood Regional Medical Center — Clyde (acute care; government-owned; 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 Haywood County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Haywood County at Waynesville (10,667), Canton (4,418), Maggie Valley (1,744), Clyde (1,383), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Haywood County include 28716, 28721, 28745, 28751, 28785, 28786. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Haywood 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 Haywood County residents
Here is what we can help Haywood County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Get a clear answer for Haywood County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- 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?
Haywood County compared with similar North Carolina counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | 15,483 | 67.9% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Wilson County | 15,309 | 54.2% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Surry County | 15,258 | 74.2% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Rutherford County | 14,799 | 59.1% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Robeson County | 19,007 | 75.0% | 27% | Smaller city/town |
| Carteret County | 19,399 | 41.4% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
See every North Carolina county in our North Carolina directory or go to our North Carolina Medicare hub.