Limestone County Medicare at a glance
| Limestone County | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 18,332 | 932,312 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 16.0% | 18.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 22,327 | 1,148,442 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 11,713 | 706,387 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 52.5% | 61.5% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Limestone County ranks 14th of 67 Alabama counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 18,332 people in that age group, or 16.0% of residents (statewide: 18.3%). The 7,584 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 60% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 52.5% of Limestone County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 61.5% average across Alabama. 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 Limestone County
Limestone County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 21,299 Medicare beneficiaries in Limestone County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Alabama average of 72. About 9% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 14%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Limestone County, CMS reported about 560 emergency room visits and 221 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 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Limestone County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Limestone County; we help Limestone County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Limestone County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Limestone County:
- Athens Limestone Hospital — Athens (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. 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 Limestone County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Limestone County at Athens (30,904), Madison (12,620), Huntsville (4,870), Ardmore (1,421), Elkmont (436), Lester (119), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Limestone County include 35611, 35613, 35614, 35615, 35620, 35647, 35649, 35671, 35739, 35756. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Limestone 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.
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Limestone County residents
Here is what we can help Limestone County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Get a clear answer for Limestone County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Limestone County compared with similar Alabama counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | 17,443 | 60.4% | 9% | Metro |
| Lauderdale County | 20,189 | 54.8% | 13% | Metro |
| Etowah County | 20,695 | 66.4% | 21% | Metro |
| Houston County | 20,813 | 60.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Elmore County | 15,445 | 60.7% | 9% | Metro |
| Calhoun County | 21,825 | 57.0% | 14% | Metro |
See every Alabama county in our Alabama directory or go to our Alabama Medicare hub.