Medicare Plans in Georgia

How Do I Enroll in Medicare in Georgia?

To enroll in Original Medicare, do one of the following:

  • Submit an online application.
  • Apply in person at a Social Security office.
  • Call 800-772-1213 to speak with a Social Security employee.

What Georgia Medicare Plans Are Available?

Medicare is a federal insurance plan for citizens age 65 and older as well as some younger individuals with qualifying disabilities. The program is broken up in different parts, each of which applies to a different type of coverage. 

Part A

Part A is the original program of Medicare and is meant to provide coverage for inpatient services. It is funded by the federal government and premiums are determined based on participation in the payroll tax system. Part A coverage includes inpatient services in a hospital, skilled nursing or surgical center facility and home health. 

Part B

Part B is the portion of Medicare that covers preventative services, including annual visits, some diagnostics and even some prescription medications. Premiums are designated based on income, which means it varies for beneficiaries. Parts A and B may be purchased as stand-alone policies for those that may not automatically be covered. 

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage programs are supplemental policies that cover many of the elements of Parts A and B. Beneficiaries may choose this policy to replace A and B, though enrollment in both parts is necessary to qualify for an Advantage program. Advantage plans are administered through private insurance companies. Coverage may vary depending on the insurer, but generally is provided through one of four constructs: 

  • Private fee-for-service
  • Special needs plan
  • Health maintenance organization (HMO)
  • Preferred provider organization (PPO)

The benefit of a Medicare Advantage plan is that this option includes provisions for dental and vision services, where Parts A and B do not. 

Part D/Prescription Drug Plan

Part D of Medicare is the prescription drug plan, which is geared specifically towards medications. It is supplemental to the other components and may cover some things that the other parts do not. This is an optional feature and can be purchased as a stand-alone program. 

Beneficiaries can sign up for coverage through Part D when enrolling in the other Medicare components. However, doing so outside of the enrollment periods may incur a penalty. 

Medigap

Medigap coverage does exactly as it suggests: it fills in the financial gaps for medical and healthcare services administered through Medicare. Medigap is also administered through private insurers and may be used for copays, coinsurance and deductibles. 

As of 2020, there are almost two million Georgians enrolled in Medicare. Of this number, almost half have an Advantage plan. Every Georgia county has at least one Advantage plan option. Georgia's Medigap insurers maintain steady premiums that do not increase with the age of the beneficiary. 

However, Medigap premiums for disabled residents under the age of 65 are higher than those for traditional enrollees. 

Who Is Eligible for Georgia Medicare?

Georgia citizens are available for automatic enrollment in Medicare if they are already receiving Social Security benefits. They receive a mailed package four months prior to their 65th birthday apprising them of benefits information. 

Those who are not automatically enrolled can do so in the period three months prior to turning 65, their birth month and in the three months after that date. 

Medicare also offers special enrollment periods. The first is from January 1 through March 31, with benefits beginning as of July 1. The second is a special fall enrollment that starts October 15 and extends through December 7, with benefits kicking in January 1. 

The fall enrollment period is also the point at which enrollees can change Advantage and Part D plans. 

Those who qualify for Medicare and have either lost employer-sponsored coverage, recently moved back into the country or became ineligible for Medicaid can enroll at any time without incurring a penalty. All others may have to pay a fee for enrolling outside of the predetermined enrollment periods. 

How Do I Enroll in Medicare in Georgia?

There are three ways to enroll in Medicare in Georgia: 

  • Apply online via the Social Security Administration 
  • Call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 to speak with a live agent.
  • Make an appointment at the local Social Security Administration office to get in-person assistance. 

Average Cost of Medicare Advantage Plans in Georgia

Average Cost of Medicare Advantage Plans in Georgia
Average Monthly Premium $51.70
Average in-network out-of-pocket spending limit $6,711.01
Average drug deductible in 2023 (weighted) $365.32
Percentage of plans rated 4 stars or higher 34.3%
Average Cost of Medicare Advantage Plans in Georgia
Average Monthly Premium
$51.70
Average in-network out-of-pocket spending limit
$6,711.01
Average drug deductible in 2021 (weighted)
$365.32
Percentage of plans rated 4 stars or higher
34.3%

Georgia Medicare Advantage Plans by County

The chart below provides more information about Medicare Advantage plan costs and enrollment in Georgia by county in 2021.

Scroll to the right to continue reading the chart
County Average Premium Average Annual Drug Deductible % of Plans Rates 4 Stars or Higher # of Plans Available
Appling $52 $362 33.3% 66
Baker $51 $363 35.3% 68
Baldwin $50 $360 35.2% 71
Barrow $49 $360 33.7% 86
Bartow $52 $368 30.4% 79
Bryan $50 $360 31.2% 77
Wilkes $50 $360 35.7% 70
Wilkinson $52 $364 33.3% 69
Worth $54 $359 37.1% 62
Wayne $52 $362 32.4% 68
Webster $51 $360 35.3% 68
Wheeler $53 $372 35.5% 62
White $50 $355 28.9% 76
Whitfield $56 $369 41.5% 53
Wilcox $52 $373 35.5% 62
Upson $50 $363 34.3% 70
Walker $56 $368 39.7% 58
Walton $49 $375 32.6% 89
Ware $52 $364 32.3% 65
Warren $50 $360 34.7% 72
Washington $50 $360 36.2% 69
Towns $49 $360 32.9% 70
Treutlen $50 $363 32.4% 68
Troup $52 $357 31.0% 71
Turner $50 $363 31.4% 70
Twiggs $51 $362 33.8% 71
Union $50 $360 31.4% 70
Taylor $52 $364 32.4% 71
Telfair $53 $374 34.4% 61
Terrell $52 $380 45.3% 53
Thomas $57 $369 42.0% 50
Tift $50 $363 31.4% 70
Toombs $52 $364 31.3% 67
Stephens $50 $353 29.1% 79
Stewart $51 $360 35.3% 68
Sumter $55 $381 46.0% 50
Talbot $50 $360 35.2% 71
Taliaferro $50 $360 36.2% 69
Tattnall $52 $362 33.3% 66
Richmond $51 $360 33.3% 72
Rockdale $49 $376 31.2% 93
Russell $52 $377 30.9% 94
Schley $52 $364 34.3% 67
Screven $51 $360 32.4% 68
Seminole $57 $369 42.0% 50
Polk $51 $373 32.0% 75
Pulaski $52 $373 35.5% 62
Putnam $52 $362 35.3% 68
Quitman $51 $363 33.3% 66
Rabun $51 $360 32.8% 67
Randolph $53 $355 38.6% 57
Oconee $50 $358 31.2% 77
Oglethorpe $50 $358 32.0% 75
Peach $51 $362 32.9% 73
Pickens $52 $369 31.2% 77
Pierce $52 $364 31.3% 67
Pike $52 $362 35.3% 68
Monroe $52 $362 34.3% 70
Montgomery $53 $372 35.5% 62
Morgan $49 $357 33.3% 75
Murray $52 $364 32.4% 68
Muscogee $50 $361 32.5% 77
Newton $50 $377 31.5% 89
Marion $51 $360 35.3% 68
Mcduffie $51 $360 33.3% 72
Mcintosh $51 $360 31.9% 69
Meriwether $52 $364 34.3% 70
Miller $57 $369 42.0% 50
Mitchell $57 $369 42.0% 50
Lincoln $50 $358 35.6% 73
Long $54 $374 35.6% 59
Lowndes $54 $378 33.3% 54
Lumpkin $50 $353 29.3% 75
Macon $51 $362 33.3% 72
Madison $50 $358 31.2% 77
Jones $52 $362 34.8% 69
Lamar $52 $362 35.3% 68
Lanier $57 $369 42.0% 50
Laurens $51 $362 35.2% 71
Lee $54 $381 44.2% 52
Liberty $52 $364 31.5% 73
Jackson $48 $352 30.9% 81
Jasper $53 $377 34.3% 70
Jeff Davis $54 $374 35.6% 59
Jefferson $50 $360 35.2% 71
Jenkins $52 $371 37.7% 61
Johnson $51 $362 32.4% 68
Harris $51 $361 31.6% 76
Hart $50 $360 33.8% 71
Heard $51 $362 32.9% 73
Henry $51 $376 33.3% 93
Houston $51 $362 32.9% 73
Irwin $50 $363 32.4% 68
Greene $50 $358 32.4% 74
Gwinnett $51 $376 34.7% 101
Habersham $48 $352 29.1% 79
Hall $51 $356 29.1% 79
Hancock $50 $360 34.7% 72
Haralson $53 $379 30.1% 73
Gadsden $53 $355 36.7% 60
Gilmer $51 $361 33.8% 68
Glascock $50 $360 35.2% 71
Glynn $53 $357 33.9% 56
Gordon $54 $356 33.8% 65
Grady $57 $369 42.0% 50
Evans $50 $360 32.4% 68
Fannin $52 $362 33.3% 66
Floyd $54 $372 35.3% 68
Forsyth $51 $368 33.7% 89
Franklin $49 $357 31.6% 76
Fulton $51 $378 36.5% 96
Douglas $52 $368 33.0% 94
Early $57 $398 52.5% 40
Echols $57 $369 42.0% 50
Effingham $50 $360 30.8% 78
Elbert $50 $360 34.7% 72
Emanuel $52 $364 31.3% 67
Dawson $51 $371 29.9% 77
Decatur $57 $369 42.0% 50
Dekalb $51 $376 35.4% 99
Dodge $53 $372 35.5% 62
Dooly $52 $364 30.4% 69
Dougherty $55 $386 44.4% 45
Columbia $51 $360 32.4% 74
Cook $57 $369 42.0% 50
Coweta $52 $377 32.3% 93
Crawford $51 $362 32.9% 73
Crisp $50 $363 31.4% 70
Dade $56 $368 41.1% 56
Clay $55 $381 45.7% 46
Clayton $51 $376 34.4% 96
Clinch $52 $371 37.7% 61
Cobb $52 $361 37.1% 89
Coffee $52 $362 33.3% 66
Colquitt $54 $359 35.0% 60
Catoosa $55 $354 35.9% 64
Charlton $54 $372 36.7% 60
Chatham $50 $360 30.9% 81
Chattahoochee $51 $360 34.8% 69
Chattooga $50 $360 30.7% 75
Cherokee $51 $369 32.9% 82
Bulloch $51 $396 44.4% 54
Burke $51 $360 33.8% 71
Butts $51 $375 33.7% 83
Calhoun $55 $403 46.7% 45
Candler $52 $373 36.7% 60
Carroll $53 $374 27.9% 68
Ben Hill $52 $373 35.5% 62
Berrien $56 $367 43.1% 51
Bibb $52 $362 34.2% 73
Bleckley $53 $372 35.5% 62
Brantley $52 $371 37.7% 61
Brooks $57 $369 42.0% 50
Clarke $50 $358 30.0% 80
Spalding $50 $375 31.5% 89
Paulding $51 $359 30.6% 85
Atkinson $52 $371 37.7% 61
Bacon $54 $372 36.7% 60
Banks $51 $356 28.6% 77

Contact Information for Georgia Medicare, Medicaid and Insurance Help

For help signing up for Medicare or choosing a plan, as well as getting assistance with other insurance options including Medicaid, there are various resources available. 

HelpAdvisor: The HelpAdvisor website offers information on enrolling in Medicare as well as eligibility criteria, resources for assistance and more. 

Georgia State Health Insurance Program (SHIP): The Georgia SHIP program provides assistance with choosing the best Medicare plan as well as help with enrollment and any other questions. 

GeorgiaCares: This public-private partnership provides assistance with Medicare enrollment as well as differentiating between the various plans. Those in need of assistance can visit the GeorgiaCares website or call (866) 552-4464.