Wayne County Medicare at a glance
| Wayne County | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 5,050 | 1,696,217 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 16.1% | 15.4% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,560 | 2,041,931 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,800 | 1,148,032 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.9% | 56.2% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Wayne County ranks 75th of 159 Georgia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 5,050 people in that age group, or 16.1% of residents (statewide: 15.4%). About 1,883 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 60% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 31% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. About 57.9% of people with Medicare in Wayne County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the Georgia average of 56.2%. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Wayne County
The USDA classifies Wayne 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 6,565 Medicare beneficiaries in Wayne County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Georgia average of 73. About 15% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 12%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Wayne County, CMS reported about 677 emergency room visits and 217 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (560) and close to it for hospital stays (223). About 7% 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 Wayne County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Wayne County; we help Wayne County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Wayne County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Wayne County:
- Wayne Memorial Hospital — Jesup (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
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.
Wayne County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Wayne County by 2023 Census population estimates are Jesup (10,065), Screven (803), Odum (484). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Wayne County, that means areas such as 31545, 31546, 31555, 31560, 31599, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Wayne 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.
- Georgia Access, Georgia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Georgia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Wayne County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Wayne County residents we can compare ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Ready to compare plans in Wayne County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Wayne County residents
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Wayne County compared with similar Georgia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grady County | 5,107 | 60.8% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Decatur County | 5,200 | 61.9% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Chattooga County | 4,844 | 68.4% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Upson County | 5,303 | 65.3% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Sumter County | 5,305 | 66.3% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Toombs County | 4,541 | 65.6% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
See every Georgia county in our Georgia directory or go to our Georgia Medicare hub.