The numbers behind Medicare in Houston County
| Houston County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 20,813 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.2% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 26,584 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 16,198 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 60.9% | 61.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 20,813 residents age 65 and older, Houston County is 11th among 67 Alabama counties for older residents. That group is 19.2% of its population, compared with 18.3% across Alabama. The 7,230 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 58% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 60.9% of Houston County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 61.5% average across Alabama. 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 Houston County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Houston County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 26,516 Medicare beneficiaries in Houston County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Houston County, CMS reported about 581 emergency room visits and 243 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (600) and close to it for hospital stays (247). About 12% 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 Houston County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Houston County; we help Houston County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Houston County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Houston County:
- Flowers Hospital — Dothan (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
- Southeast Health Medical Center — Dothan (acute care; government-owned; 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Houston County
The largest communities in Houston County by 2023 Census population estimates are Dothan (69,686), Ashford (2,329), Taylor (2,304), Kinsey (2,263), Rehobeth (2,013), Cowarts (2,000). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Houston County, that means areas such as 36301, 36303, 36305, 36312, 36320, 36321, 36343, 36352, 36370, 36376, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Houston 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Houston County residents
Here is what we can help Houston 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.
Ready to compare plans in Houston County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Houston County residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Houston County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah County | 20,695 | 66.4% | 21% | Metro |
| Lauderdale County | 20,189 | 54.8% | 13% | Metro |
| Calhoun County | 21,825 | 57.0% | 14% | Metro |
| Morgan County | 23,040 | 55.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Limestone County | 18,332 | 52.5% | 9% | Metro |
| St. Clair County | 17,443 | 60.4% | 9% | Metro |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.