2,328,318
people with Medicare
July 2026, CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment
58%
in Medicare Advantage or other health plans
July 2026, CMS
106
Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone, 2027
CY2027 Landscape, CMS
30,654
members whose plan ends December 31, 2026
CMS Landscape, crosswalk and October 2026 enrollment
Statewide
- 2,328,318 people with Medicare in July 2026: 981,552 in Original Medicare and 1,346,766 in Medicare Advantage and other health plans. Source: CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment (data.cms.gov).
- 1,333,573 Medicare Advantage members (HMO and PPO plans, special needs and employer plans included) in October 2026. Source: CMS Monthly Enrollment by Contract, Plan, State and County, October 2026. CMS hides counts of 10 or fewer, so the real total is a little higher.
- 106 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone, 57 special needs plans and 16 companies in North Carolina for 2027; 11 standalone Part D plans statewide. Source: CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (November 2026 release).
- All 100 counties have Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in 2027: from 11 in Carteret County to 57 in Davidson County. Source: CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (November 2026 release).
- 30,654 members whose Medicare Advantage plan ends December 31, 2026: 2,781 because their company leaves their county and 27,873 because their plan ends where the company stays. Sources: CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (November 2026 release), CMS 2027 Part C&D Plan Crosswalk (which 2026 plans renew, merge or end) and CMS Monthly Enrollment by Contract, Plan, State and County, October 2026. Details on plans ending in 2027.
- Counties with the most people on Medicare: Wake (192,573), Mecklenburg (169,259), Guilford (112,601), Forsyth (85,545), Brunswick (68,714).
By county
Each county's numbers, with the same sources and dates as above. Download the table (CSV).
| County | Region | People with Medicare | Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage and other plans | Share in Medicare Advantage | Plans open to everyone, 2027 | Special needs plans, 2027 | Companies, 2027 | Members whose plan ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | Piedmont Triad | 38,958 | 11,437 | 27,521 | 71% | 53 | 34 | 12 | 287 |
| Alexander County | Western North Carolina | 8,942 | 2,954 | 5,988 | 67% | 48 | 27 | 9 | 51 |
| Alleghany County | Western North Carolina | 3,823 | 1,634 | 2,189 | 57% | 38 | 26 | 8 | 59 |
| Anson County | Charlotte area | 5,742 | 1,944 | 3,798 | 66% | 47 | 28 | 10 | 0 |
| Ashe County | Western North Carolina | 8,768 | 4,396 | 4,372 | 50% | 34 | 23 | 6 | 34 |
| Avery County | Western North Carolina | 5,125 | 2,493 | 2,632 | 51% | 43 | 26 | 7 | 0 |
| Beaufort County | Eastern North Carolina | 14,818 | 6,660 | 8,158 | 55% | 23 | 14 | 4 | 43 |
| Bertie County | Eastern North Carolina | 5,592 | 2,355 | 3,237 | 58% | 20 | 17 | 5 | 138 |
| Bladen County | Eastern North Carolina | 8,214 | 2,732 | 5,482 | 67% | 39 | 28 | 10 | 44 |
| Brunswick County | Coast and Outer Banks | 68,714 | 38,152 | 30,562 | 44% | 38 | 25 | 8 | 323 |
| Buncombe County | Western North Carolina | 67,401 | 34,682 | 32,719 | 49% | 44 | 35 | 11 | 453 |
| Burke County | Western North Carolina | 23,086 | 8,269 | 14,817 | 64% | 39 | 30 | 9 | 230 |
| Cabarrus County | Charlotte area | 40,549 | 15,158 | 25,391 | 63% | 43 | 41 | 13 | 4,859 |
| Caldwell County | Western North Carolina | 20,971 | 6,873 | 14,098 | 67% | 42 | 29 | 8 | 39 |
| Camden County | Eastern North Carolina | 2,468 | 1,593 | 875 | 35% | 21 | 14 | 4 | 112 |
| Carteret County | Coast and Outer Banks | 22,042 | 12,677 | 9,365 | 42% | 11 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Caswell County | Piedmont Triad | 5,739 | 1,746 | 3,993 | 70% | 46 | 25 | 9 | 12 |
| Catawba County | Western North Carolina | 39,970 | 15,275 | 24,695 | 62% | 49 | 34 | 11 | 270 |
| Chatham County | The Triangle | 21,580 | 9,994 | 11,586 | 54% | 38 | 26 | 9 | 68 |
| Cherokee County | Western North Carolina | 11,143 | 5,317 | 5,826 | 52% | 28 | 21 | 5 | 977 |
| Chowan County | Eastern North Carolina | 4,461 | 2,437 | 2,024 | 45% | 23 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| Clay County | Western North Carolina | 4,787 | 2,614 | 2,173 | 45% | 36 | 23 | 6 | 255 |
| Cleveland County | Charlotte area | 25,299 | 9,342 | 15,957 | 63% | 43 | 26 | 7 | 2,101 |
| Columbus County | Eastern North Carolina | 13,882 | 5,568 | 8,314 | 60% | 40 | 27 | 9 | 952 |
| Craven County | Eastern North Carolina | 28,521 | 16,660 | 11,861 | 42% | 13 | 9 | 4 | 29 |
| Cumberland County | The Sandhills | 61,754 | 26,227 | 35,527 | 58% | 40 | 24 | 8 | 271 |
| Currituck County | Coast and Outer Banks | 7,400 | 4,941 | 2,459 | 33% | 27 | 15 | 4 | 109 |
| Dare County | Coast and Outer Banks | 11,405 | 8,390 | 3,015 | 26% | 20 | 10 | 4 | 141 |
| Davidson County | Piedmont Triad | 39,674 | 10,605 | 29,069 | 73% | 57 | 39 | 12 | 433 |
| Davie County | Piedmont Triad | 12,135 | 3,973 | 8,162 | 67% | 55 | 38 | 13 | 91 |
| Duplin County | Eastern North Carolina | 11,451 | 4,911 | 6,540 | 57% | 30 | 18 | 6 | 73 |
| Durham County | The Triangle | 56,699 | 27,367 | 29,332 | 52% | 41 | 28 | 11 | 324 |
| Edgecombe County | Eastern North Carolina | 13,277 | 4,657 | 8,620 | 65% | 26 | 15 | 5 | 33 |
| Forsyth County | Piedmont Triad | 85,545 | 27,403 | 58,142 | 68% | 56 | 41 | 13 | 1,321 |
| Franklin County | The Triangle | 16,799 | 7,126 | 9,673 | 58% | 33 | 22 | 8 | 41 |
| Gaston County | Charlotte area | 49,815 | 18,154 | 31,661 | 64% | 47 | 36 | 11 | 282 |
| Gates County | Eastern North Carolina | 2,864 | 1,601 | 1,263 | 44% | 27 | 14 | 4 | 170 |
| Graham County | Western North Carolina | 2,332 | 1,011 | 1,321 | 57% | 35 | 24 | 6 | 128 |
| Granville County | The Triangle | 13,085 | 5,319 | 7,766 | 59% | 32 | 21 | 7 | 13 |
| Greene County | Eastern North Carolina | 4,036 | 1,568 | 2,468 | 61% | 29 | 19 | 6 | 86 |
| Guilford County | Piedmont Triad | 112,601 | 33,125 | 79,476 | 71% | 57 | 40 | 13 | 883 |
| Halifax County | Eastern North Carolina | 14,236 | 5,192 | 9,044 | 64% | 28 | 17 | 5 | 53 |
| Harnett County | The Triangle | 24,181 | 10,288 | 13,893 | 57% | 35 | 24 | 8 | 108 |
| Haywood County | Western North Carolina | 19,585 | 9,021 | 10,564 | 54% | 40 | 32 | 10 | 96 |
| Henderson County | Western North Carolina | 37,539 | 19,809 | 17,730 | 47% | 44 | 33 | 10 | 194 |
| Hertford County | Eastern North Carolina | 5,746 | 2,432 | 3,314 | 58% | 26 | 14 | 4 | 28 |
| Hoke County | The Sandhills | 8,500 | 3,378 | 5,122 | 60% | 36 | 21 | 7 | 47 |
| Hyde County | Coast and Outer Banks | 1,298 | 587 | 711 | 55% | 25 | 17 | 5 | 26 |
| Iredell County | Charlotte area | 42,229 | 17,011 | 25,218 | 60% | 50 | 28 | 10 | 528 |
| Jackson County | Western North Carolina | 9,558 | 4,779 | 4,779 | 50% | 37 | 25 | 7 | 40 |
| Johnston County | The Triangle | 41,613 | 17,432 | 24,181 | 58% | 36 | 25 | 8 | 1,232 |
| Jones County | Eastern North Carolina | 3,025 | 1,356 | 1,669 | 55% | 27 | 15 | 5 | 71 |
| Lee County | The Triangle | 15,577 | 6,903 | 8,674 | 56% | 31 | 20 | 7 | 845 |
| Lenoir County | Eastern North Carolina | 15,403 | 6,572 | 8,831 | 57% | 24 | 17 | 5 | 25 |
| Lincoln County | Charlotte area | 23,739 | 10,131 | 13,608 | 57% | 48 | 29 | 10 | 149 |
| Macon County | Western North Carolina | 12,876 | 7,019 | 5,857 | 45% | 30 | 24 | 6 | 136 |
| Madison County | Western North Carolina | 6,398 | 2,746 | 3,652 | 57% | 42 | 27 | 7 | 37 |
| Martin County | Eastern North Carolina | 6,659 | 2,651 | 4,008 | 60% | 32 | 18 | 6 | 27 |
| McDowell County | Western North Carolina | 12,459 | 4,544 | 7,915 | 64% | 44 | 31 | 10 | 93 |
| Mecklenburg County | Charlotte area | 169,259 | 75,915 | 93,344 | 55% | 50 | 39 | 12 | 2,364 |
| Mitchell County | Western North Carolina | 4,617 | 2,022 | 2,595 | 56% | 38 | 31 | 9 | 41 |
| Montgomery County | The Sandhills | 6,717 | 2,388 | 4,329 | 64% | 39 | 26 | 9 | 755 |
| Moore County | The Sandhills | 29,938 | 14,619 | 15,319 | 51% | 39 | 23 | 8 | 116 |
| Nash County | Eastern North Carolina | 24,752 | 10,205 | 14,547 | 59% | 23 | 19 | 6 | 108 |
| New Hanover County | Coast and Outer Banks | 55,294 | 30,154 | 25,140 | 45% | 37 | 29 | 9 | 209 |
| Northampton County | Eastern North Carolina | 5,703 | 2,264 | 3,439 | 60% | 24 | 14 | 4 | 187 |
| Onslow County | Coast and Outer Banks | 33,400 | 18,300 | 15,100 | 45% | 14 | 7 | 3 | 26 |
| Orange County | The Triangle | 29,252 | 14,572 | 14,680 | 50% | 48 | 26 | 10 | 64 |
| Pamlico County | Coast and Outer Banks | 4,571 | 2,586 | 1,985 | 43% | 26 | 14 | 4 | 40 |
| Pasquotank County | Eastern North Carolina | 9,801 | 5,366 | 4,435 | 45% | 25 | 14 | 4 | 191 |
| Pender County | Coast and Outer Banks | 15,780 | 7,566 | 8,214 | 52% | 38 | 26 | 8 | 607 |
| Perquimans County | Eastern North Carolina | 4,487 | 2,547 | 1,940 | 43% | 24 | 14 | 4 | 68 |
| Person County | The Triangle | 10,567 | 4,029 | 6,538 | 62% | 46 | 27 | 9 | 12 |
| Pitt County | Eastern North Carolina | 35,327 | 15,324 | 20,003 | 57% | 21 | 20 | 7 | 0 |
| Polk County | Western North Carolina | 7,375 | 4,203 | 3,172 | 43% | 35 | 31 | 11 | 112 |
| Randolph County | Piedmont Triad | 32,437 | 7,971 | 24,466 | 75% | 54 | 33 | 10 | 204 |
| Richmond County | The Sandhills | 10,774 | 3,664 | 7,110 | 66% | 36 | 24 | 9 | 41 |
| Robeson County | The Sandhills | 27,150 | 7,204 | 19,946 | 73% | 32 | 22 | 8 | 97 |
| Rockingham County | Piedmont Triad | 25,395 | 5,896 | 19,499 | 77% | 53 | 35 | 11 | 82 |
| Rowan County | Charlotte area | 34,008 | 11,309 | 22,699 | 67% | 51 | 35 | 12 | 152 |
| Rutherford County | Western North Carolina | 17,627 | 7,278 | 10,349 | 59% | 35 | 25 | 6 | 825 |
| Sampson County | Eastern North Carolina | 13,721 | 4,972 | 8,749 | 64% | 30 | 21 | 7 | 60 |
| Scotland County | The Sandhills | 8,420 | 2,694 | 5,726 | 68% | 32 | 23 | 9 | 126 |
| Stanly County | Charlotte area | 16,015 | 5,757 | 10,258 | 64% | 39 | 23 | 6 | 196 |
| Stokes County | Piedmont Triad | 12,506 | 3,410 | 9,096 | 73% | 51 | 33 | 11 | 64 |
| Surry County | Piedmont Triad | 19,654 | 5,817 | 13,837 | 70% | 31 | 25 | 8 | 28 |
| Swain County | Western North Carolina | 4,123 | 2,252 | 1,871 | 45% | 35 | 25 | 7 | 173 |
| Transylvania County | Western North Carolina | 11,023 | 5,419 | 5,604 | 51% | 40 | 31 | 10 | 54 |
| Tyrrell County | Eastern North Carolina | 897 | 462 | 435 | 48% | 28 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
| Union County | Charlotte area | 43,407 | 20,363 | 23,044 | 53% | 47 | 38 | 12 | 395 |
| Vance County | The Triangle | 10,986 | 3,419 | 7,567 | 69% | 32 | 21 | 7 | 95 |
| Wake County | The Triangle | 192,573 | 91,909 | 100,664 | 52% | 35 | 28 | 9 | 2,392 |
| Warren County | The Triangle | 5,217 | 2,049 | 3,168 | 61% | 33 | 20 | 6 | 38 |
| Washington County | Eastern North Carolina | 3,588 | 1,582 | 2,006 | 56% | 23 | 14 | 4 | 51 |
| Watauga County | Western North Carolina | 10,133 | 5,141 | 4,992 | 49% | 30 | 20 | 6 | 36 |
| Wayne County | Eastern North Carolina | 26,300 | 11,179 | 15,121 | 57% | 22 | 19 | 6 | 48 |
| Wilkes County | Western North Carolina | 18,507 | 5,439 | 13,068 | 71% | 48 | 36 | 11 | 33 |
| Wilson County | Eastern North Carolina | 19,315 | 7,946 | 11,369 | 59% | 20 | 20 | 7 | 617 |
| Yadkin County | Piedmont Triad | 9,767 | 2,516 | 7,251 | 74% | 49 | 30 | 10 | 49 |
| Yancey County | Western North Carolina | 5,847 | 2,653 | 3,194 | 55% | 38 | 25 | 7 | 428 |
How these are counted
- People with Medicare: total beneficiaries in CMS's Medicare Monthly Enrollment file, July 2026, by county of residence. "Medicare Advantage and other plans" is CMS's category for Medicare Advantage and other Medicare health plans.
- Plans open to everyone: Medicare Advantage plans (with or without drug coverage) that aren't special needs plans, counted by contract and plan in the CY2027 Landscape file.
- Members whose plan ends: October 2026 members of regular plans that end or leave their county, from the Landscape files and the 2027 Plan Crosswalk; people CMS moves into another plan that still covers their county aren't counted.
- We don't show plans' premiums, cost sharing, star ratings or benefits.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment (data.cms.gov)
- CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape file (November 2026 release)
- CMS Monthly Enrollment by Contract, Plan, State and County, October 2026
- CMS 2027 Part C&D Plan Crosswalk (which 2026 plans renew, merge or end)
Frequently asked questions
How many people have Medicare in North Carolina?
2,328,318 North Carolinians had Medicare in July 2026, according to CMS's Medicare Monthly Enrollment data: 981,552 in Original Medicare and 1,346,766 in Medicare Advantage and other health plans.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are there in North Carolina for 2027?
CMS's CY2027 Landscape file lists 106 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone with Medicare somewhere in North Carolina, plus 57 special needs plans, from 16 companies. Plans are sold by county, so the number where you live is lower: from 11 in Carteret County to 57 in Davidson County.
Can I use these numbers?
Yes. They are public CMS data compiled by NorthCarolinaMedicare.org; please cite CMS and this page. The county table is also a CSV file.
Why don't you show premiums or star ratings?
Plan premiums, costs, benefits and ratings belong with the plans themselves. To see the plans for your ZIP code, compare plans on PlanMatch, or contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for information on all of your options.