Van Buren County Medicare at a glance
| Van Buren County | Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 15,575 | 1,926,752 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.5% | 19.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 19,822 | 2,334,917 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,851 | 1,484,072 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 64.8% | 63.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
With roughly 15,575 residents age 65 and older, Van Buren County is 25th among 83 Michigan counties for older residents. That group is 20.5% of its population, compared with 19.2% across Michigan. The 5,594 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 63% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 29% is 75 to 84 and 8% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Van Buren County is 64.8% of people with Medicare, close to the Michigan average of 63.6%. 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 Van Buren County
Van Buren County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, 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 19,354 Medicare beneficiaries in Van Buren County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Michigan average of 72. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Van Buren County, CMS reported about 666 emergency room visits and 191 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 6% 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 Van Buren County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Van Buren County; we help Van Buren County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Van Buren County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Van Buren County:
- Bronson Lakeview Hospital — Paw Paw (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
- Bronson South Haven Hospital — South Haven (acute care; 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 Van Buren County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Van Buren County at South Haven (3,996), Paw Paw (3,389), Mattawan (2,756), Hartford (2,479), Bangor (1,977), Lawton (1,789), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Van Buren County, that means areas such as 49013, 49026, 49027, 49043, 49045, 49055, 49056, 49057, 49063, 49064, 49065, 49071, 49079, 49090, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County residents
Here is what we can help Van Buren County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Ready to compare plans in Van Buren County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
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Van Buren County compared with similar Michigan counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiawassee County | 13,947 | 67.9% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Marquette County | 13,861 | 59.1% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| St. Joseph County | 11,887 | 57.5% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
| Tuscola County | 11,856 | 68.1% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Newaygo County | 10,788 | 75.6% | 28% | Smaller city/town |
| Lenawee County | 20,515 | 61.3% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
See every Michigan county in our Michigan directory or go to our Michigan Medicare hub.