Medicare in Polk County by the numbers
| Polk County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,044 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.9% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 9,383 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 5,740 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.2% | 56.2% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Polk County ranks 53rd of 159 Georgia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 7,044 people in that age group, or 15.9% of residents (statewide: 15.4%). The 2,741 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 32% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. About 61.2% of people with Medicare in Polk County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Georgia average of 56.2%. 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 Polk County
Polk County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 9,640 Medicare beneficiaries in Polk County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 17% 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 Polk County, CMS reported about 799 emergency room visits and 298 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (560) and higher than it for hospital stays (223). About 11% 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 Polk County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Polk County; we help Polk County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Polk County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Polk County:
- Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center — Cedartown (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services)
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.
Polk County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Polk County live in communities such as Cedartown (10,300), Rockmart (5,231), Aragon (1,502), Braswell (159), Taylorsville (32) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Polk County number 3: 30104, 30125, 30153. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Polk 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 Polk County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Polk County households, including 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 Polk County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Polk County residents
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Polk County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tift County | 6,910 | 62.3% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Colquitt County | 7,546 | 63.4% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Coffee County | 6,393 | 62.7% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Ware County | 6,373 | 59.9% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Hart County | 6,331 | 54.0% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Baldwin County | 7,798 | 66.0% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.