Medicare in Jefferson Parish
The parish seat is Gretna, and the parish includes Kenner, Harahan, Westwego and Metairie, along with communities such as Marrero, Harvey and River Ridge. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimates count 82,284 residents age 65 and older in Jefferson Parish (source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 population estimates).
Hospitals serving the parish include East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, part of LCMC Health, and Ochsner Medical Center on Jefferson Highway. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability, and the provider networks behind them, are set county by county, which in Louisiana means parish by parish. That is why we check the plans offered where you live and confirm your doctors before you choose.
The numbers behind Medicare in Jefferson Parish
| Jefferson Parish | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 82,284 | 793,655 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.5% | 17.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 95,206 | 977,541 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 67,793 | 561,903 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 71.2% | 57.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 82,284 residents age 65 and older, Jefferson Parish is 1st among 64 Louisiana parishes for older residents. That group is 19.5% of its population, compared with 17.4% across Louisiana. About 28,744 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. About 71.2% of people with Medicare in Jefferson Parish are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is higher than the Louisiana average of 57.5%. 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 Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish 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 95,478 Medicare beneficiaries in Jefferson Parish (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Louisiana average of 72. About 20% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Jefferson Parish, CMS reported about 620 emergency room visits and 212 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (648) and close to it for hospital stays (237). 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.
Where people live in Jefferson Parish
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Jefferson Parish at Kenner (63,333), Gretna (17,026), Harahan (8,719), Westwego (8,148), Jean Lafitte (1,781), Grand Isle (966), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Jefferson Parish include 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70006, 70036, 70053, 70056, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70072, 70094 and 3 more. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about your Medicare options?
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.
- Louisiana Department of Insurance: Louisiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Jefferson Parish residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Jefferson Parish households, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Let's check your Jefferson Parish options together
We will confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, by phone or video call.
Get my free 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?
Jefferson Parish compared with similar Louisiana parishes
| Parish | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 70,903 | 65.3% | 18% | Metro |
| Orleans Parish | 66,128 | 68.0% | 26% | Metro |
| St. Tammany Parish | 52,409 | 61.8% | 13% | Metro |
| Caddo Parish | 44,291 | 54.6% | 19% | Metro |
| Lafayette Parish | 38,539 | 41.6% | 15% | Metro |
| Calcasieu Parish | 34,222 | 45.2% | 16% | Metro |
See every Louisiana parish in our Louisiana directory or go to our Louisiana Medicare hub.