Medicare Statistics 2024

• by Christian Worstell
• January 12, 2024

As of 2023, 65,636,490 Americans are enrolled in Medicare.¹ This means roughly 25.4% of all 258.3 million U.S. adults are enrolled in Medicare.²

What are the statistics of Medicare? In this guide to 2023 Medicare statistics and fast facts, you can learn more about the parts of Medicare and how it works for the population of Medicare beneficiaries in 2023.

What is Medicare?

Medicare Part A and Part B are the two parts of what is often called Original Medicare or traditional Medicare, which is administered federally by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• Part A covers inpatient care at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and other facilities.
• Part B covers outpatient care such as trips to your doctor's office and medical devices such as walkers and wheelchairs.

Most Americans qualify for Medicare when they turn 65, though younger people may be eligible for Medicare if they have a qualifying disability or condition such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Medicare Enrollment Statistics

• 65,636,490 people are enrolled in Medicare.
• 7,716,192 people – roughly 11.8% of Medicare beneficiaries – are under the age of 65.
• 34,073,277 beneficiaries are enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
• 31,563,213 beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) or other Medicare health plans.
• 22,576,006 beneficiaries have a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).
• 28,816,577 beneficiaries get their Medicare drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan.¹

*2022 full year enrollment data is not yet available. 2023 data as of Feb 2023, the most recent monthly data available.

Medicare Costs and Beneficiary Spending

Most people don't pay a premium for Medicare Part A. For those who do, monthly Part A premiums cost either $278 or $505 per month in 2024, depending on their or their spouse's work history.

The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2024 is $174.70 per month. Some beneficiaries pay more based on their income, through what is called the Medicare IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amount).

Some beneficiaries may also pay a higher Part B premium each month due to the Part B late enrollment penalty.

• Over 773,000 Medicare beneficiaries pay a Part A monthly premium. This is a 13% increase since 2016.
• Over 7 million Medicare beneficiaries pay an increased Part B premium due to the late enrollment penalty. This is a 5% increase in the number of beneficiaries since 2016.
• Over 4.6 million beneficiaries pay an increased Part B premium due to the Part B IRMAA. This is a 42% increase since 2016.³

Medicare Advantage (Part C) statistics

Of Medicare beneficiaries who have either a Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) plan, 64% have a Medicare Advantage plan while 36% have a Medicare Supplement insurance plan.⁴ Medicare beneficiaries cannot have a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time.

Each year, Medicare evaluates plans using a 5-star rating system. On average, 55% of Medicare Advantage plans in each state are rated 4 stars or higher by Medicare.⁵

Medicare Advantage demographic statistics

• Medicare Advantage plan beneficiaries are roughly 55% female and 45% male.
• 13% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are under age 65.
• 51% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are between age 65 and 75.
• 36% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are over age 75.
• 68% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are non-Hispanic White.
• 13% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are non-Hispanic Black.
• 12% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are Hispanic.
• 7% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are not any of the above.
• 61% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have an annual income under $25,000.
• 61% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have an annual income under $25,000.
• 50% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have more than a high school education.
• 33% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have high school or vocational, technical or business education.
• 17% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have less than a high school education.
• 87% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live in a metro area.
• 13% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live in a non-metro area.
• 49% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are married.
• 21% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are widowed.
• 21% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are divorced or separated.
• 9% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have never been married.
• Over 33% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live alone.
• Roughly 40% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live with their partner or spouse only.
• 20% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries live with their partner and children/grandchildren or with children/grandchildren alone.⁴

Medicare Advantage coverage statistics

Medicare Advantage plans are required to offer at least the same benefits as Original Medicare. Some plans may offer extra benefits Original Medicare doesn't cover, though these benefits aren't available with all plans or in all areas.

• Roughly 9 out of 10 Medicare Advantage plans (89%) include prescription drug coverage. These plans are sometimes called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans.
• 99% of Medicare Advantage plans offer some dental, hearing, fitness and/or vision benefits.
• 85% of Medicare Advantage plans offer some over-the-counter (OTC) benefits.
• 72% of Medicare Advantage plans include some meal benefit or grocery benefits.
• 36% of Medicare Advantage plans include some transportation benefits.
• 9% of Medicare Advantage plan cover some in-home support services.
• 4% of Medicare Advantage plans include support for caregivers.⁶

Medicare Advantage cost statistics

Because Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies, costs like coinsurnace, copays, deductibles and monthly premiums may vary.

• Of the 89% of Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage, 66% of those plans charge no monthly premium other than the monthly Part B premium.
• Almost all Medicare beneficiaries (99%) have access to a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan with no monthly premium.⁶
• The average Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan premium is $13.24 per month (not weighted by enrollment).
• The average Medicare Advantage plan medical deductible is $25.44 per year.
• The average Medicare Advantage plan in-network out-of-pocket spending limit is $4,663.80 for the year.⁵

Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP) statistics

One type of Medicare Advantage plan is a Special Needs Plan (SNP). Medicare SNPs are specially designed to meet the needs of specific populations of Medicare beneficiaries, including those who have certain chronic conditions and those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare Special Needs Plans are required to cover everything Original Medicare covers as well as prescription drugs. Many SNPs offer additional benefits to those who qualify and if an SNP is available where they live.

• 93% of SNP plans have $0 copay dental cleanings.
• 93% of SNP plans have $0 copay dentures.
• 92% of SNP plans have $0 copay eye exams.
• 80% of SNP plans have $0 copay eyeglasses.
• 92% of SNP plans have $0 copay routine hearing tests.
• 65% of SNP plans have $0 copay hearing aid fittings.
• 79% of SNP plans include $0 personal emergency response systems installation and monitoring.
• 90% of SNP plans include $0 copay lab and diagnostic tests (X-rays, CAT scans).
• 54% of SNP plans include $0 copay lab and diagnostic tests (bloodwork).
• 73% of SNP plans include $0 copay diabetic supplies.
• SNPs can offer a max $2,700 annual over-the-counter (OTC) allowance amount.⁷

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) statistics

Medicare Supplement insurance (also called Medigap) is a type of plan that pays for some Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copays, coinsurance and other costs. There are 10 standardized Medigap plans available in most states, and each type of plan has a letter name.

• 54% of Medicare beneficiaries with no other coverage are enrolled in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan.
• From 2017 to 2021, Medicare Supplement insurance enrollment grew roughly 8% nationwide.⁸

Medicare Supplement plan statistics

• 1% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan A.
• 1% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan B.
• 3% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan C.
• 1% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan D.
• 41% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan F.
• 32% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan G.
• 1% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan K.
• <0.5% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan L.
• <0.5% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan M.
• 10% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have Plan N.⁸

Medicare Supplement demographic statistics

• Medicare Supplement plan beneficiaries are roughly 57% female and 43% male.
• 4% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are under age 65.
• 56% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are between age 65 and 75.
• 40% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are over age 75.
• 89% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are non-Hispanic White.
• 3% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are non-Hispanic Black.
• 3% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are Hispanic.
• 5% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are not any of the above.
• 15% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have an annual income under $25,000.
• 85% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have an annual income under $25,000.
• 66% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have more than a high school education.
• 28% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have high school or vocational, technical or business education.
• 6% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have less than a high school education.
• 77% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries live in a metro area.
• 23% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries live in a non-metro area.
• 60% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are married.
• 20% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are widowed.
• 15% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries are divorced or separated.
• 5% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries have never been married.
• Roughly 29% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries live alone.
• Roughly 55% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries live with their partner or spouse only.
• Roughly 13% of Medicare Supplement beneficiaries live with their partner and children/grandchildren or with children/grandchildren alone.⁴

Medicare Supplement cost statistics

As Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private insurance companies, plan premiums may vary. Medigap costs can also vary based on when a beneficiary applies for the plan, their health status, whether they're a smoker and other factors.

• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan A premium was $224 per month.
• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan B premium was $121 per month.
• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan C premium was $238 per month.
• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan D premium was $146 per month.
• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan F premium was $202 per month.
• In 2023, the average High-Deductible Medigap Plan F premium was $83 per month.
• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan G premium was $135 per month.
• In 2023, the average High-Deductible Medigap Plan G premium was $57 per month.
• In 2023, the average Medigap Plan N premium was $110 per month.⁹

Medicare Part D Statistics

Beneficiaries can get Medicare prescription drug coverage through a standalone Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) or with a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, sometimes called a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan.

Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies, so premiums, deductibles and other costs can vary. The following 16 PDPs are offered nationwide in 2023.¹⁰

Medicare FAQs

How many medicare beneficiaries are there in 2023? 

65,636,490 Americans are enrolled in Medicare as of June 2023. 34,073,277 beneficiaries have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), while 31,563,213 beneficiaries have a privately sold Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan.

This means 52% of Medicare beneficiaries have Original Medicare in 2023, while roughly 48% of beneficiaries have a Medicare Advantage plan.¹

What percentage of the population is covered by Medicare?

Around 25.4% of all U.S. adults are enrolled in Medicare. This means roughly 19.4% of the total U.S. population is enrolled in Medicare.¹

What percentage of Americans have Medicare Advantage?

More than 48% of Medicare beneficiaries have a Medicare Advantage plan in 2023.¹

What state has the most people on Medicare?

California has the greatest number of Medicare beneficiaries of any state in the U.S. In 2023, there are over 6.6 million Medicare beneficiaries in the state of California.

Florida is the state with the next-highest Medicare population, with just under 5 million Medicare beneficiaries.¹

What state has the highest percentage of Medicare recipients?

Roughly 25% or more of the population of New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia and Maine are enrolled in Medicare. Maine is the state with the highest percentage, at around 26%.

In 40 states, roughly 1 in 5 residents are enrolled in Medicare.¹¹

Does Medicare ever pay 100 percent?

Original Medicare typically doesn't cover 100 percent of your health care costs.

Some preventive health services and other treatments may be covered in full by Medicare Part A or Part B, but beneficiaries must still typically pay costs such as Medicare Part B (and sometimes Part A) premiums, deductibles and copays or coinsurance.

Does every American get Medicare at 65?

Most Americans qualify for Medicare around age 65, though some people may be eligible for Medicare under 65 because they have a qualifying disability, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

Americans can continue receiving other forms of health insurance – such as employer or union provided insurance – past age 65. Depending on their situation, a beneficiary may be able to delay enrolling in Medicare Part A and/or Part B past age 65 until after they leave their other insurance.

Is Medicare good in all 50 states?

Medicare is accepted in all states and territories in the U.S. Most doctors and providers accept Medicare beneficiaries, but it's advisable to check whether a provider accepts new Medicare patients.

Medicare statistics by state

Click on a state from the map below to learn more about Medicare in the state.