The numbers behind Medicare in St. James Parish
| St. James Parish | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 3,921 | 793,655 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.4% | 17.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 4,994 | 977,541 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,511 | 561,903 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 70.3% | 57.5% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
St. James Parish ranks 43rd of 64 Louisiana parishes by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 3,921 people in that age group, or 20.4% of residents (statewide: 17.4%). Another 1,454 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 59% ages 65 to 74, 30% ages 75 to 84 and 11% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 70.3% of people with Medicare in St. James Parish are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is higher than the Louisiana average of 57.5%. 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 St. James Parish
St. James Parish 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 4,916 Medicare beneficiaries in St. James Parish (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Louisiana average of 72. About 18% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in St. James Parish, CMS reported about 731 emergency room visits and 220 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (648) and close to it for hospital stays (237). 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 you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and St. James Parish may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in St. James Parish; we help St. James Parish residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in St. James Parish
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in St. James Parish:
- St. James Parish Hospital — Lutcher (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in St. James Parish
People in St. James Parish live in communities such as Lutcher (2,914), Gramercy (2,751) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside St. James Parish include 70052, 70071, 70086, 70090, 70723, 70743, 70763. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in St. James Parish?
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.
- Louisiana Department of Insurance: Louisiana’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer St. James Parish residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for St. James Parish households, including final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Ready to compare plans in St. James Parish?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for St. James Parish residents
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
St. James Parish compared with similar Louisiana parishes
| Parish | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Feliciana Parish | 3,949 | 59.6% | 20% | Metro |
| Richland Parish | 3,755 | 52.2% | 31% | Metro |
| Assumption Parish | 4,199 | 62.7% | 19% | Metro |
| West Baton Rouge Parish | 4,331 | 68.7% | 21% | Metro |
| Grant Parish | 3,507 | 43.1% | 21% | Metro |
| Plaquemines Parish | 3,388 | 69.0% | 25% | Metro |
See every Louisiana parish in our Louisiana directory or go to our Louisiana Medicare hub.