Medicare in Talbot County by the numbers
| Talbot County | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 11,522 | 1,066,384 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 30.5% | 17.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 12,489 | 1,206,222 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,973 | 298,863 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 15.8% | 24.8% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Talbot County ranks 18th of 24 Maryland counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 11,522 people in that age group, or 30.5% of residents (statewide: 17.3%). The 2,965 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 51% are 65 to 74, 37% are 75 to 84 and 13% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 15.8% of people with Medicare in Talbot County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is lower than the Maryland average of 24.8%. 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 Talbot County
The USDA classifies Talbot County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 12,366 Medicare beneficiaries in Talbot County (2023). Their average age is 75, older than the Maryland average of 73. About 11% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 17%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Talbot County, CMS reported about 477 emergency room visits and 147 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (555) and lower than it for hospital stays (217). 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 Talbot County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Talbot County; we help Talbot County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Talbot County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Talbot County:
- University of MD Shore Medical Center at Easton — Easton (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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.
Talbot County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Talbot County at Easton (17,225), Trappe (1,345), St. Michaels (1,061), Oxford (600), Queen Anne (61), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Talbot County number 15: 21601, 21612, 21624, 21625, 21647, 21652, 21653, 21654, 21662, 21663, 21665, 21671, 21673, 21676 and 1 more. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Talbot 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.
- Maryland Health Connection, Maryland’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Maryland’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Talbot County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Talbot County residents we can compare Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Ready to compare plans in Talbot County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Talbot County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Talbot County compared with similar Maryland counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Anne's County | 11,200 | 17.1% | 10% | Metro |
| Allegany County | 14,393 | 18.8% | 24% | Smaller city/town |
| Dorchester County | 7,760 | 26.2% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| Garrett County | 7,163 | 22.1% | 18% | Rural |
| Worcester County | 15,895 | 25.1% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Calvert County | 16,037 | 18.3% | 11% | Metro |
See every Maryland county in our Maryland directory or go to our Maryland Medicare hub.