The numbers behind Medicare in Lowndes County
| Lowndes County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 16,370 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 13.6% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 21,937 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 11,422 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 52.1% | 56.2% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Lowndes County ranks 27th of 159 Georgia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 16,370 people in that age group, or 13.6% of residents (statewide: 15.4%). About 6,151 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 61% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Lowndes County is 52.1% of people with Medicare, close to the Georgia average of 56.2%. 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 Lowndes County
Lowndes County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 21,454 Medicare beneficiaries in Lowndes County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 12%. 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 Lowndes County, CMS reported about 612 emergency room visits and 233 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (560) and close to it for hospital stays (223). 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Lowndes County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Lowndes County; we help Lowndes County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Lowndes County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Lowndes County:
- SGMC Health — Valdosta (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
Lowndes County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Lowndes County by 2023 Census population estimates are Valdosta (55,025), Hahira (3,459), Lake Park (1,485), Remerton (1,265), Dasher (926). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Lowndes County, that means areas such as 31601, 31602, 31605, 31606, 31632, 31641, 31698, 31699, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Lowndes 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Lowndes County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Lowndes County residents we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Ready to compare plans in Lowndes County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Lowndes County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | 16,381 | 65.4% | 14% | Metro |
| Clarke County | 16,791 | 55.2% | 11% | Metro |
| Whitfield County | 15,871 | 42.9% | 18% | Metro |
| Floyd County | 17,174 | 56.1% | 16% | Metro |
| Rockdale County | 15,433 | 65.2% | 13% | Metro |
| Bartow County | 17,525 | 57.1% | 12% | Metro |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.