Honorbrook Insurance is an independent agency licensed in Michigan, helping Kent County residents choose Medicare, ACA, life and retirement coverage by phone or video call. Our help is free to you, and because we are independent, we compare plans from many carriers instead of selling one company’s products.
Medicare in Kent County
Kent County includes Grand Rapids and the communities around it in West Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 population estimates, about 102,130 Kent County residents are age 65 or older, so choosing the right Medicare coverage is a decision many of your neighbors are making too. Whether you are turning 65, retiring, or reviewing your current plan, we can walk through your choices with you on a call at a time that suits you.
Major hospitals and health systems serving the county include Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital and Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital, both in Grand Rapids. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, and they can change every year. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is the same nationwide, but the private plans you can add to it are not. That is why we check the plans offered where you live and confirm that your doctors and pharmacy are included before you enroll.
Medicare in Kent County by the numbers
| Kent County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 102,130 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.4% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 125,344 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 93,409 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 74.5% | 63.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 102,130 residents age 65 and older, Kent County is 4th among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 15.4% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. Another 39,046 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 61% ages 65 to 74, 29% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Kent County is 74.5% of people with Medicare, higher 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 Kent County
Kent County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 122,709 Medicare beneficiaries in Kent County (2023). Their average age is 70, younger than the Michigan average of 72. About 25% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 20%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Kent County, CMS reported about 677 emergency room visits and 216 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (645) and close to it for hospital stays (245). About 9% 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 Kent County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Kent County at Grand Rapids (196,608), Wyoming (77,451), Kentwood (53,987), Walker (25,289), Grandville (16,682), East Grand Rapids (11,429), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Kent County, that means areas such as 49301, 49302, 49306, 49315, 49316, 49319, 49321, 49326, 49330, 49331, 49341, 49343, 49345, 49418 and 13 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Kent 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 Kent County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Kent County residents we can compare annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Let’s review your Kent County options together
A phone or video call is all it takes. We will check your doctors and prescriptions first.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Kent County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Kent County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genesee County | 77,829 | 69.7% | 22% | Metro |
| Washtenaw County | 60,189 | 59.4% | 15% | Metro |
| Ottawa County | 52,010 | 77.3% | 17% | Metro |
| Kalamazoo County | 43,432 | 65.8% | 15% | Metro |
| Ingham County | 43,269 | 67.1% | 34% | Metro |
| Livingston County | 40,325 | 55.1% | 9% | Metro |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.