St. Joseph County Medicare at a glance
| St. Joseph County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 11,887 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 19.5% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 14,455 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,307 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.5% | 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 11,887 residents age 65 and older, St. Joseph County is 32nd among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 19.5% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. Another 4,297 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 61% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 29% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. CMS data show 57.5% of St. Joseph County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 63.6% average across Michigan. 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 St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 14,268 Medicare beneficiaries in St. Joseph County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 11% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in St. Joseph County, CMS reported about 593 emergency room visits and 197 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 4% 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 St. Joseph County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in St. Joseph County; we help St. Joseph County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in St. Joseph County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in St. Joseph County:
- Sturgis Hospital — Sturgis (rural emergency; government-owned; emergency services)
- Three Rivers Health — Three Rivers (acute care; government-owned; no emergency department; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
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.
Where people live in St. Joseph County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in St. Joseph County at Sturgis (11,012), Three Rivers (7,928), Constantine (1,990), White Pigeon (1,725), Centreville (1,321), Colon (1,198), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside St. Joseph County include 49030, 49032, 49040, 49042, 49066, 49072, 49075, 49091, 49093, 49099. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in St. Joseph 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.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services: Michigan’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer St. Joseph County residents
Here is what we can help St. Joseph County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans and ACA health insurance.
Let’s check your St. Joseph County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
St. Joseph County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscola County | 11,856 | 68.1% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Newaygo County | 10,788 | 75.6% | 28% | Smaller city/town |
| Hillsdale County | 10,008 | 67.4% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Marquette County | 13,861 | 59.1% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Shiawassee County | 13,947 | 67.9% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Delta County | 9,798 | 56.6% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.