Medicare in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County does Medicare differently from its neighbors. Fewer than half of people with Medicare here use an Advantage plan, and more choose Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement than anywhere else in Florida. We help Palm Beach residents compare Supplement, Advantage and Part D plans from more than 20 insurance companies, by phone or video, at no cost.
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Medicare in Palm Beach by the numbers
| Compare | Palm Beach | Broward |
|---|---|---|
| People eligible for Medicare | 370,910 | 382,284 |
| In Medicare Advantage | 48.3% | 64.7% |
| Not in Medicare Advantage | about 191,600 | about 134,900 |
| Advantage plans offered (2026) | 87 | 85 |
| Average Advantage premium (2026) | $21.40 | $21.14 |
| Average in-network out-of-pocket max (2026) | $4,032 | $3,724 |
| Plan G, age 65 (2026 estimate) | $185 – $245 | $195 – $255 |
Sources: CMS Medicare Advantage State/County Penetration, September 2026; MedicareAdvantage.com (2026 plans); South Florida Medicare Supplement 2026 guide.
What makes Palm Beach different
Palm Beach has more people outside Medicare Advantage than any other county in Florida: about 191,600. Many are retirees who moved from New York, New Jersey and the Northeast, split the year between two homes, or want to keep specialists at hospitals anywhere in the country. Those are exactly the situations a Medicare Supplement is built for.
That doesn't make Advantage wrong here. Palm Beach has 87 Advantage plans with an average premium of about $21, and for someone who stays local and whose doctors are in network, one can be a good value. We compare both for you.
Medicare Supplement in Palm Beach
Published 2026 estimates for a 65-year-old woman who doesn't use tobacco put Palm Beach Plan G at about $185–$245 a month and Plan N at $155–$210, among the lowest in South Florida and far below Miami-Dade ($305–$440 for Plan G).
- Any doctor, anywhere: use any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, in Palm Beach or up north.
- Issue-age pricing: Florida requires Supplements to be priced on your age when you buy, so buying at 65 locks in the lower starting rate.
- Your best window: the first six months on Part B, when companies must accept you whatever your health.
Medicare Advantage in Palm Beach
Palm Beach's 87 Advantage plans include HMOs, HMO-POS plans, PPOs and Special Needs Plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNPs) or chronic conditions (C-SNPs). They come from companies such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Florida Blue, Wellcare and HealthSpring.
The average in-network out-of-pocket maximum here ($4,032) is a little higher than in Broward, so it pays to look past the premium. If you spend months out of state, check how each plan covers you there before you enroll. How Medicare Advantage works.
Seasonal residents and snowbirds
If you live in Palm Beach part of the year, the plan you choose decides how you're covered the rest of the year.
| Compare | Medicare Supplement | Advantage HMO | Advantage PPO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine care up north | Covered anywhere Medicare is accepted | Usually not covered | Covered out of network, at a higher cost |
| Emergencies anywhere in the U.S. | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Specialists at a hospital in another state | Covered if they accept Medicare | Usually not | Often, at a higher cost |
| Part D prescriptions | Stand-alone plan, network pharmacies nationwide | Included; check out-of-area pharmacy rules | Included; check pharmacy rules |
Your plan must be based on your permanent address. If you change which state is home, you get a special enrollment period to choose a new plan.
Hospitals we check in Palm Beach
With a Supplement, any hospital that accepts Medicare works. If you're considering an Advantage plan, we confirm your hospitals are in its 2027 network. Palm Beach residents most often ask about:
| Area | Hospitals |
|---|---|
| South county (Boca Raton, Delray, Boynton) | Boca Raton Regional Hospital, West Boca Medical Center, Delray Medical Center, Bethesda Hospital East |
| Central (West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Atlantis) | St. Mary's Medical Center, Good Samaritan Medical Center, HCA Florida JFK Hospital, HCA Florida JFK North |
| North county (Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter) | Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Jupiter Medical Center |
| Western communities (Wellington, Loxahatchee) | Wellington Regional Medical Center, HCA Florida Palms West Hospital |
Hospital names are listed so we can check networks for you. They don't endorse us, and network participation changes each year.
Where we help in Palm Beach
By phone and video across the county, including Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lantana, Lake Worth Beach, Greenacres, Palm Springs, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Juno Beach, Jupiter and Tequesta, and the Glades communities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay.
We also help residents of Palm Beach's large 55-plus communities, such as Century Village and Kings Point, where neighbors often compare notes, but each person's doctors and drugs are different.
Free local Medicare help in Palm Beach
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is run locally by the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, 701 Northpoint Parkway, Suite 115, West Palm Beach. Helpline: 1-866-684-5885, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Source: Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast. SHINE volunteers counsel but don't enroll you in plans; a licensed agent can compare plans and handle enrollment.
Part D in Palm Beach
If you choose a Supplement, you'll add a stand-alone Part D plan. For 2027 your out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,400, but premiums and which pharmacies are "preferred" (Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart or your neighborhood pharmacy) vary by plan. Stand-alone plans usually use nationwide pharmacy networks, which helps seasonal residents. How Part D works.
Help paying for Medicare
If your income and savings are limited, a Medicare Savings Program can pay your Part B premium, and Extra Help lowers drug costs. People with both Medicare and Medicaid can often join a Dual Special Needs Plan. Florida applications go through ACCESS Florida. We check before recommending any plan.
Turning 65 in Palm Beach
Your 7-month enrollment window starts 3 months before your birthday month. In a Supplement-heavy county like Palm Beach, the most important date is the start of your Part B: that opens your six-month window to buy any Supplement without health questions. See the turning-65 timeline.
Haitian families in Palm Beach
Palm Beach County has a large Haitian community, including many families in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach and West Palm Beach. Our founder, Luckny Dubreus, is Haitian, and we explain Medicare in Haitian Creole.
Nou pale Kreyòl. Rele nou pou nou eksplike w Medicare, san ou pa peye anyen.
Common Medicare mistakes we see in Palm Beach
- Keeping a Medicare Supplement bought years ago without comparing. The same Plan G can cost very different amounts at different companies, and your current company's rate increases add up.
- Assuming Plan F is still the best choice. If you became eligible after 2019, Plan F isn't available; Plan G or N usually is the closest fit.
- Joining an HMO while spending summers up north. Routine care outside Florida usually isn't covered.
- Using a Florida address for a plan when your permanent home is elsewhere, or the reverse. Your plan must match where you legally live.
- Letting the six-month Supplement window pass at 65 and then facing health questions to switch later.
- Picking a Part D plan once and never checking again. Formularies and preferred pharmacies change every January.
2027 Annual Enrollment in Palm Beach
Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Read your plan's Annual Notice of Change: premiums, copays, drug lists and networks can change.
- Advantage plans for 2027: {{2027 PB MA COUNT}}
- $0-premium plans: {{PB $0 COUNT}}
- Plans leaving or ending: {{PB EXITS}}
Medicare Supplements aren't part of Annual Enrollment. You can apply any time, but outside your guaranteed windows the company can ask health questions.
How we work with Palm Beach clients
- We meet by phone or video at a time that suits you, including when you're up north.
- We list your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, pharmacy and where you spend the year.
- We compare Supplement plus Part D against Advantage, with total yearly costs.
- You decide, and we handle enrollment. Every fall, we review your plan again.
Palm Beach Medicare questions
How many people in Palm Beach County have Medicare Advantage?
48.3% of the 370,910 Palm Beach residents eligible for Medicare, as of September 2026, far fewer than in Broward (64.7%) or Miami-Dade (75.2%).
How much does a Medicare Supplement cost in Palm Beach?
Published 2026 estimates put Plan G at about $185–$245 a month and Plan N at $155–$210 for a 65-year-old woman who doesn't use tobacco. Your price depends on age, sex, tobacco use and the company.
I live in Palm Beach part of the year. Which plan type works best?
For many seasonal residents a Medicare Supplement is simpler, because it works with any provider that accepts Medicare in any state. Advantage HMOs are usually built around a local network.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Palm Beach?
SHINE, through the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach/Treasure Coast in West Palm Beach. Call 1-866-684-5885.
Do you help with Medicare Advantage in Palm Beach too?
Yes. We compare Advantage plans as well, and show you both options side by side.
Do you meet in person in Palm Beach?
We help Palm Beach clients by phone and video. Home visits are available in Broward County.
Can I switch Medicare Supplement companies in Florida?
Yes, you can apply to a new company at any time, but outside your guaranteed windows it can ask health questions and may decline you. If you're healthy, comparing companies can lower your premium for the same coverage.
Which hospitals do Palm Beach residents use most?
Common choices include Boca Raton Regional, Delray Medical Center, St. Mary's, Good Samaritan, HCA Florida JFK, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and Jupiter Medical Center. We check whether each is in network for any Advantage plan you consider.
Do you help in Haitian Creole?
Yes. We help Palm Beach families in both English and Haitian Creole.
Talk to a licensed agent. No cost, no pressure.
Tell us how to reach you. A licensed agent from our team calls you back, usually the same business day. We never sell or share your number.
- Licensed in Florida · NPN 18530652
- Plans from more than 20 insurance companies
- We review your plan with you every fall
- English and Haitian Creole