The numbers behind Medicare in Worcester County
| Worcester County | Maryland | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 15,895 | 1,066,384 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 29.3% | 17.3% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 17,513 | 1,206,222 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,394 | 298,863 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 25.1% | 24.8% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Maryland’s 24 counties, Worcester County comes in 16th for residents age 65 and up (15,895). Older adults make up 29.3% of the population here; the state figure is 17.3%. About 4,679 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Census 2023 estimates show 55% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 34% is 75 to 84 and 11% is 85 or older. CMS data show 25.1% of Worcester County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 24.8% average across Maryland. 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 Worcester County
The USDA classifies Worcester County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, 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 17,004 Medicare beneficiaries in Worcester County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the Maryland average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 17%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Worcester County, CMS reported about 647 emergency room visits and 193 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (555) and close to it for hospital stays (217). About 10% 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 Worcester County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Worcester County; we help Worcester County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Worcester County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Worcester County:
- Atlantic General Hospital — Berlin (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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.
Worcester County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Worcester County live in communities such as Ocean City (6,915), Berlin (5,346), Pocomoke City (4,401), Snow Hill (2,273) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Worcester County number 10: 21811, 21813, 21829, 21841, 21842, 21851, 21862, 21863, 21864, 21872. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Worcester 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.
- Maryland Health Connection, Maryland’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Maryland’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Worcester County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Worcester County residents we can compare annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Get a clear answer for Worcester County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Worcester County compared with similar Maryland counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvert County | 16,037 | 18.3% | 11% | Metro |
| St. Mary's County | 16,904 | 16.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Allegany County | 14,393 | 18.8% | 24% | Smaller city/town |
| Wicomico County | 18,040 | 27.3% | 22% | Metro |
| Cecil County | 18,651 | 21.8% | 16% | Metro |
| Talbot County | 11,522 | 15.8% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
See every Maryland county in our Maryland directory or go to our Maryland Medicare hub.