Medicare in Houghton County by the numbers
| Houghton County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,911 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.4% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,175 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,359 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 53.3% | 63.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Houghton County ranks 58th of 83 Michigan counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 6,911 people in that age group, or 18.4% of residents (statewide: 19.2%). Another 2,064 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 57% ages 65 to 74, 31% ages 75 to 84 and 12% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Houghton County is 53.3% of people with Medicare, lower than the Michigan average of 63.6%. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Houghton County
Houghton County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 8,188 Medicare beneficiaries in Houghton 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 Houghton County, CMS reported about 580 emergency room visits and 167 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (645) and lower than it for hospital stays (245). 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 Houghton County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Houghton County; we help Houghton County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Houghton County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Houghton County:
- Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital and Clinics — Laurium (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services)
- Up Health System Portage — Hancock (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 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 Houghton County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Houghton County at Houghton (8,508), Hancock (4,507), Laurium (1,876), Lake Linden (1,018), South Range (741), Calumet (679), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Houghton County include 49905, 49913, 49916, 49917, 49921, 49922, 49930, 49931, 49934, 49942, 49945, 49952, 49955, 49958 and 3 more. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Houghton 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.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Houghton County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Houghton County residents we can compare life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Let’s check your Houghton County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Houghton County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wexford County | 7,189 | 65.5% | 25% | Smaller city/town |
| Chippewa County | 7,207 | 56.1% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Dickinson County | 6,480 | 51.2% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
| Manistee County | 7,368 | 63.0% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Charlevoix County | 7,377 | 56.6% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Alpena County | 7,403 | 57.6% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.