Sanilac County Medicare at a glance
| Sanilac County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,605 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 23.8% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 11,762 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,929 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 58.9% | 63.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 9,605 residents age 65 and older, Sanilac County is 38th among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 23.8% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. Another 3,303 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 30% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. CMS data show 58.9% of Sanilac County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 63.6% average across Michigan. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Sanilac County
Sanilac County is a rural county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area. Rural counties tend to have fewer local hospitals and doctors, so a plan’s network and the distance to care matter a great deal.
CMS counts 11,697 Medicare beneficiaries in Sanilac County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 19% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Sanilac County, CMS reported about 672 emergency room visits and 214 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (645) and lower than 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Sanilac County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Sanilac County; we help Sanilac County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Sanilac County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Sanilac County:
- Deckerville Community Hospital — Deckerville (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services)
- Marlette Regional Hospital — Marlette (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services)
- McKenzie Health System — Sandusky (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.
Sanilac County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Sanilac County at Sandusky (2,685), Croswell (2,296), Marlette (1,853), Brown City (1,292), Lexington (927), Deckerville (878), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Sanilac County number 18: 48401, 48410, 48416, 48419, 48422, 48426, 48427, 48434, 48450, 48453, 48454, 48456, 48465, 48466 and 4 more. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Sanilac 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.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Sanilac County residents
Here is what we can help Sanilac County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Sanilac County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
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Sanilac County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huron County | 8,590 | 55.2% | 18% | Rural |
| Clare County | 8,099 | 67.4% | 27% | Rural |
| Gladwin County | 7,146 | 66.9% | 19% | Rural |
| Antrim County | 7,128 | 59.4% | 15% | Rural |
| Oceana County | 6,224 | 70.9% | 21% | Rural |
| Ogemaw County | 5,944 | 59.4% | 21% | Rural |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.