23 days left in Annual Enrollment (ends Dec. 7)
North Carolina Medicare, made clear
Medicare works the same nationwide, but your choices in North Carolina depend on your county, your retirement plan and whether you also have NC Medicaid. Plain-English, sourced guides on the State Health Plan, NC Medicaid and MQB, Medigap rules, military life, hurricanes and the 2027 plan changes.
Pick your Medicare Advantage company and county to see if your plan ends December 31.
Enter your ZIP code to see the Medicare plans available where you live.
You'll go to PlanMatchMedicare.com, a plan comparison site from Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. Only your ZIP code is sent.
Find an independent licensed insurance agent near you. No cost to you.
These independent licensed insurance agents work with Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. When they enroll you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life may be paid by the insurance company. Learn more.
Or you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
If the agent shown enrolls you in a plan, the insurance company may pay the agent and Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. Learn more.
Steven Graves Licensed in North Carolina
Casey Gilley Licensed in North Carolina
Licensed insurance agents for North Carolina
These independent insurance agents are licensed in North Carolina and work with Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. When they enroll you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life may be paid by the insurance company. Learn more.
Start with where you are
Plain-English guides for the moments when Medicare decisions come up.
Turning 65 in North Carolina
A month-by-month checklist: Social Security, Parts A and B, the Medigap window, State Health Plan retirees and NC help paying.
Read the guideMoving to North Carolina
Coming from the Northeast or Florida? What moves with you, what doesn't, and the deadline to pick a plan here.
Read the guideOpen Enrollment for 2027
October 15 to December 7: what to check in your plan's letter and which North Carolina plans end in 2027.
Read the guideMedicare Advantage or Medigap?
How the two paths compare in North Carolina: networks in the mountains, no birthday rule, costs and when you can switch.
Read the guideFind the right Medicare plan
Tools and licensed insurance agents in North Carolina to help you compare coverage and costs.
Talk to an agent
Guidance from a licensed insurance agent in North Carolina, at no cost to you.
Find an agentCompare plans
Compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D plans sold in your ZIP code.
Compare now2026 costs
Premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits for the year.
See costsEnrollment dates
Know when to enroll: your Initial Enrollment Period, Open Enrollment and special enrollment periods.
View datesThe four parts of Medicare
Each part covers different services. Here's how each works for North Carolinians.
Part A: Hospital insurance
Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health care.
Part B: Medical insurance
Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and medical equipment.
Part C: Medicare Advantage
Private plans that bundle Parts A, B and usually D. Some also offer extra benefits, such as dental or vision.
Part D: Prescription drugs
Covers prescription drugs through private plans. Out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026.
Medicare, the North Carolina way
The State Health Plan, NC Medicaid Direct, Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, hurricanes, the mountains: the parts of Medicare that work differently here.
State Health Plan retirees
What the State Health Plan expects of TSERS and other retirees at 65, and what happens if you join an outside Medicare plan.
Plans differ by county
For 2027, CMS lists 57 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Davidson County and 11 in Carteret County.
NC Medicaid, MQB and CAP/DA
How NC Medicaid Direct, the MQB savings programs and the CAP/DA waiver work with Medicare if you qualify for both.
Medigap rules in North Carolina
No birthday rule, a six-month window for people under 65 on disability, and your guaranteed-issue rights.
Half-backs and Florida retirees
Moving up from Florida or splitting the year: how Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D follow you, and the six-month rule.
Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune and veterans
TRICARE For Life near Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson and Cherry Point, VA care in Asheville, Durham, Fayetteville and Salisbury, and Medicare together.
Hurricanes, floods and Helene
What happens to your coverage after a storm, disaster enrollment periods and replacing lost equipment or medicine.
The mountains and rural North Carolina
Distance to care, Critical Access Hospitals, telehealth and what to check in a plan when the nearest hospital is far away.
Not sure where to start?
A licensed insurance agent in North Carolina can review your situation, compare plans from the companies they work with in your county and help you enroll, at no cost to you.
Find a North Carolina agentAgents are paid by insurance companies, not by you. If an agent enrolls you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life, the publisher of this site, may be paid by the insurance company.
Medicare by county in North Carolina
Find agents and the 2027 plans sold where you live. Plan counts are Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone, from CMS.
Mecklenburg County
Wake County
Guilford County
Forsyth County
Durham County
Cumberland County
New Hanover County
Buncombe County
What does Medicare cost?
Key numbers every North Carolina beneficiary should know.
Frequently asked questions about Medicare in North Carolina
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
When can I enroll in Medicare in North Carolina?
Your Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it. Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 each year. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31.
Are the same Medicare Advantage plans sold everywhere in North Carolina?
No. Plans are sold county by county, so the number of Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone differs from one North Carolina county to the next, and the metro areas usually have the most. Original Medicare, Medigap and standalone Part D plans are available in every county. See your county's page for its CMS plan counts.
When is the best time to buy a Medigap policy in North Carolina?
During your 6-month Medigap open enrollment period, which starts the first month you're 65 or older and have Part B. In that window a company must sell you any Medigap policy it offers in North Carolina, without health questions. See Medigap in North Carolina for the other times you have that right.
What is the Part B premium in 2026?
The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month. People with higher incomes pay more through IRMAA.
How do I find a licensed insurance agent in North Carolina?
Use the agent search at the top of this page, pick one agent and request a call. Agents listed here are licensed in North Carolina and can compare plans from the companies they work with, at no cost to you.