Medicare Supplement Plans in Gulf County, Florida: Port St. Joe
What Medicare Supplement plans pay in Gulf County in 2026, with cost examples, a cost calculator, local hospitals and free Medicare help
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Medicare in Gulf County, Florida
Gulf County, on the Panhandle coast around St. Joseph Bay, has one Medicare-certified hospital, Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf in Port St. Joe, and one Medicare-certified nursing home, according to CMS data updated in 2026. About 26% of its roughly 16,000 residents are 65 or older. This page shows what Medicare Supplement plans pay here in 2026, with cost examples and a calculator, then lists each hospital and nursing home with its CMS rating and points you to free local Medicare help.
Reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Life & Health insurance agent licensed in Florida since 1994 and in Alabama (NPN 553216).
Verify the license on the Florida Department of Financial Services licensee search using NPN 553216. Last reviewed October 11, 2026. Medicare amounts on this page are checked against CMS figures for 2026.
Gulf County at a Glance
| County seat | Port St. Joe |
|---|---|
| Incorporated cities | Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka |
| Other communities | Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Highland View and Overstreet |
| Population | 15,943 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025) |
| Residents 65 and older | 25.8% |
| People with Medicare | 4,684 (CMS, June 2026) |
| In Original Medicare, where a Medigap plan can be added | 2,484 (53.0%) |
| In Medicare Advantage or other health plans | 2,200 (47.0%) |
| Medicare-certified hospitals | 1 general hospital with an emergency department |
| Medicare-certified nursing homes | 1 |
| Medicare-certified dialysis facilities | 1 |
| Free Medicare counseling | SHINE, 1-800-963-5337 |
Medicare enrollment comes from CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment data for June 2026. Facility counts come from CMS Provider Data Catalog datasets released between July and October 2026. Facilities open, close and change names, so confirm details with the facility or on Medicare Care Compare.
Gulf County is part of our Florida Panhandle Medicare Supplement region, between Panama City and Apalachicola. Its hospital in Port St. Joe handles local and emergency care, and residents travel to Panama City or Tallahassee for many specialists.
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Free 2026 Medicare Guides
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Medicare Supplement Plans in Gulf County
Of the 4,684 people with Medicare in Gulf County, 2,484 (53.0%) use Original Medicare, according to CMS enrollment data for June 2026. That is the group that can add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. The share is higher than the statewide figure of 42.9%. Another 1,579 Gulf County residents have a stand-alone Part D drug plan, the type of drug coverage people with a Medigap plan use.
What Matters for Gulf County Residents
- A small local hospital: Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf handles emergency and local care, and more complex cases often go to Panama City or Tallahassee. A Medicare Supplement plan pays the same way at all of them.
- Ambulance transport: Part B covers medically necessary ambulance rides, and you normally pay 20% after the Part B deductible. Plan G and Plan N pay that 20%, which matters for transfers to larger hospitals.
- Plan N and excess charges: Plan N does not pay Part B excess charges, which apply only when a doctor does not accept Medicare assignment. Ask your doctors whether they accept assignment before comparing Plan N with Plan G.
- Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs: CMS counts 625 Gulf County residents with both Medicare and Medicaid. People who qualify for Medicaid usually do not need a Medigap plan, and SHINE counselors can check whether you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program.
Plan details: Plan G | Plan N | High-Deductible Plan G | Plan K | Plan L | Compare all plans
What Care in Gulf County Costs With and Without a Medigap Plan
Medicare charges the same deductibles and coinsurance at every hospital and nursing home that accepts it, so the amounts below apply whether you use Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf, a Panama City hospital or any other Medicare-certified hospital. The table shows what you would pay in 2026 for medical care, before any plan premium.
| Coverage | Routine year 6 doctor visits and $800 in tests | 4-day stay at Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf plus 8 doctor visits and $1,500 in tests | Hospital stay and rehab the same stay plus 25 days at a Gulf County nursing home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare only | $566 | $2,502 | $3,587 |
| Plan G | $283 | $283 | $283 |
| Plan N | $403 | $443 | $443 |
| High-Deductible Plan G | $566 | $2,502 | $2,950 |
| Plan K | $425 | $1,393 | $1,935 |
| Plan L | $354 | $838 | $1,109 |
In the hospital stay and rehab example, Original Medicare alone leaves you with $3,587: the $1,736 Part A deductible, $217 a day for rehab days 21 to 25, the $283 Part B deductible and 20% of the remaining Part B charges. Plan G leaves only the $283 Part B deductible. Plan N adds up to $20 per office visit. High-Deductible Plan G stops at its $2,950 deductible.
Examples assume Medicare-approved amounts of $150 per doctor visit and that every provider accepts Medicare assignment. Plan K and Plan L have yearly out-of-pocket limits of $8,000 and $4,000 in 2026. Premiums vary by carrier, age and ZIP code and are not included.
What would you pay in Gulf County in 2026?
Pick the year that sounds most like yours. The bars show what you would pay out of your own pocket for medical care, with and without a Medicare Supplement plan.
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Rehab days 1 to 20 cost nothing under Medicare. Days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day in 2026 unless a plan pays it.
Based on 2026 Medicare amounts: a $1,736 hospital deductible per stay, the $283 Part B deductible, 20% of doctor and outpatient bills and $217 a day for rehab days 21 to 100. Each hospital stay is 4 days, each doctor visit is $150 and tests are included in each example. Assumes your doctors accept Medicare assignment. The Part B premium, $202.90 a month for most people, is the same with or without a plan and is not shown. Drug, dental, vision and hearing costs are not included. Estimates are for education; your costs depend on your care.
Medicare-Certified Hospital in Gulf County
Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf on U.S. 98 in Port St. Joe is Gulf County’s only hospital. It has an emergency department and holds a CMS overall rating of 3 of 5 stars. Wewahitchka, in the north end of the county, is about 25 miles from the hospital.
| Hospital | Type | Address | Phone | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf | Acute care | 3801 E Hwy 98, Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 | (850) 229-5600 | 3 of 5 stars | Care Compare | Directions |
Nearest Larger Hospitals Outside Gulf County
For surgery, cardiology, cancer care and other specialty services, Gulf County residents often travel to Panama City, about 35 miles west of Port St. Joe.
| Hospital | County | Address | Phone | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Sacred Heart Bay | Bay | 615 N Bonita Ave, Panama City, FL 32401 | (850) 769-1511 | 3 of 5 stars | Care Compare | Directions |
| HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital | Bay | 449 W 23rd St, Panama City, FL 32405 | (850) 747-7926 | 2 of 5 stars | Care Compare | Directions |
Ratings are CMS overall hospital star ratings from the Hospital General Information dataset released August 2026. A star rating is one measure of quality, and Care Compare shows the details behind it.
Map of Medicare-Certified Facilities in and Near Gulf County
The map shows Gulf County’s hospital and nursing home in Port St. Joe along with the nearest larger hospitals in Panama City. Click a marker for the address, phone number and driving directions in Google Maps.
Medicare-Certified Nursing Home in Gulf County
CMS lists one Medicare-certified nursing home in Gulf County, Shores Nursing and Rehab Center in Port St. Joe, with 120 certified beds and a CMS overall rating of 1 of 5 stars. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled nursing stay after a qualifying hospital stay, and most Medicare Supplement plans help with the daily coinsurance for days 21 to 100, $217 per day in 2026. Neither Medicare nor Medigap pays for long-term custodial care.
| Nursing home | Address | Phone | Certified beds | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shores Nursing and Rehab Center | 220 Ninth Street, Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 | (850) 229-8244 | 120 | 1 of 5 | Care Compare | Directions |
Ratings are CMS overall nursing home ratings from the Provider Information dataset released October 2026. With one low-rated nursing home in the county, compare options in Bay, Franklin and Calhoun counties on Care Compare by ZIP code.
Home Health, Hospice and Dialysis in Gulf County
- Home health: CMS lists no Medicare-certified home health agency with an office in Gulf County. Agencies based in Bay County and other neighboring counties may serve your area, so search by your ZIP code on Medicare Care Compare.
- Hospice: CMS lists no hospice agency based in Gulf County. Agencies based in neighboring counties serve the area, so search hospice care on Care Compare by your ZIP code. Medicare Part A covers hospice care, and most Medicare Supplement plans pay the hospice coinsurance.
- Dialysis: CMS lists one dialysis facility in Gulf County, Fresenius Kidney Care Port St Joe at 3871 E Hwy 98, Port St. Joe, (850) 705-6209. Search dialysis facilities on Care Compare for shifts and ratings.
- Doctors: Doctor participation changes often, so use Care Compare’s doctor search and ask the office whether it accepts Medicare assignment. Providers who accept assignment cannot bill you Part B excess charges.
Free Medicare Help in Gulf County
These public and nonprofit resources help Gulf County residents with Medicare questions at no cost.
| Resource | What it helps with | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) | Free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers, run locally by Advantage Aging Solutions, the Area Agency on Aging for North Florida | 2414 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 488-0055 or 1-800-963-5337 floridashine.org |
| Florida Department of Health in Gulf County | Public health services, vaccinations and clinic services | 2475 Garrison Ave, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 (850) 227-1276 gulf.floridahealth.gov |
| Social Security Administration | Enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B, Part B premiums and replacement Medicare cards | Find your local office or call 1-800-772-1213 |
| Medicare | Coverage questions, Care Compare and plan information | 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) medicare.gov |
Gulf County Medicare FAQs
How many people in Gulf County use Original Medicare?
CMS counts 4,684 people with Medicare in Gulf County as of June 2026. Of them, 2,484 (53.0%) use Original Medicare, the coverage a Medicare Supplement plan works with, and 2,200 are in Medicare Advantage or other health plans.
What would a hospital stay at Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf cost me with Plan G?
For a 4-day stay in 2026, Original Medicare alone leaves you with the $1,736 Part A deductible. Plan G pays it, along with your Part B coinsurance, so your only Medicare cost for the year is the $283 Part B deductible. The amounts are the same at every hospital that accepts Medicare.
Does Medicare cover an ambulance ride to a Panama City hospital?
Medicare Part B covers medically necessary ambulance transport to the nearest appropriate facility. After the $283 Part B deductible you normally pay 20% of the approved amount. Plan G and Plan N pay that 20%.
Should Gulf County residents choose Plan G or Plan N?
Both cover hospital costs in full. Plan N charges up to $20 for some office visits and up to $50 for ER visits that do not lead to an admission, and it does not cover Part B excess charges. If your doctors accept Medicare assignment, excess charges do not apply. Use the calculator on this page with your own quotes to compare.
When should I buy a Medicare Supplement plan?
The best time is usually your six-month Medigap open enrollment period, which starts the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, carriers cannot deny you or charge more because of your health.
Will my Medicare Supplement plan cover care in Panama City or Tallahassee?
Yes. Medicare Supplement plans work with any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare, so the same plan covers care in Port St. Joe, Panama City, Tallahassee or anywhere else. There are no provider networks.
Is there a hospital in Gulf County?
Yes. Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf in Port St. Joe is the county’s only hospital. It has an emergency department and holds a CMS overall rating of 3 of 5 stars in the August 2026 data.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Gulf County?
SHINE offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling through Advantage Aging Solutions, the Area Agency on Aging for North Florida. Call (850) 488-0055 or 1-800-963-5337.
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026, August 13). Hospital General Information [Data set]. Provider Data Catalog.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026, October 8). Nursing Home Provider Information [Data set]. Provider Data Catalog.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026, August 26). Hospice General Information [Data set]. Provider Data Catalog.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026, July 15). Home Health Care Agencies [Data set]. Provider Data Catalog.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026, July 15). Dialysis Facility Listing by Facility [Data set]. Provider Data Catalog.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025, November 14). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles [Fact sheet].
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare. Medicare.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Care Compare. Medicare.gov. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau. QuickFacts: Gulf County, Florida (population estimates, July 1, 2025). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Florida Department of Elder Affairs. SHINE: Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida Department of Health in Gulf County. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. Ambulance services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Medicare Monthly Enrollment [Data set], June 2026 county data. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025, October). Medigap High-Deductible Options for Plans F, G and J, 2026 [Announcement].
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. Medicare.gov. Accessed October 11, 2026.
- Florida Department of Financial Services. Licensee Search. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Compare Medicare Supplement Plans in Gulf County
Plan benefits are the same from every carrier, but premiums in Gulf County vary by carrier, ZIP code and age. A side-by-side comparison for your ZIP code shows which carriers offer the plan you want and how their prices and rate histories compare.
Start with our Medicare Supplement plan comparison or talk with a licensed Medicare specialist below.
Towns We Serve in Gulf County
Medicare Supplement plans work the same way in every Gulf County town: the benefits for each plan letter are set by federal law, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, and your premium depends on your ZIP code, age, sex and tobacco use. Use the estimator above with your own ZIP code to see the rates filed for your area.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Port St. Joe
The Gulf County seat on St. Joseph Bay. About 3,616 people live in Port St. Joe, and about 1,068 of them are 65 or older (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey). The nearest Medicare-certified hospital on our county map is Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf in Port Saint Joe, about 3 miles away in a straight line.
Have a question about coverage in your town? Request a free quote or call and a licensed agent will walk you through it.
Communities in Gulf County
I help people with Medicare Supplement plans in every city, town and community in Gulf County.
- Port St. Joe
- Wewahitchka
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MedicareSupplementsOnly.com is owned and operated by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, a Life & Health insurance agent licensed in Florida (License A169316, active since 1994) and in Alabama as a nonresident agent. National Producer Number (NPN): 553216.
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Content Review
Content reviewed by Charles “Chuck” Lunsford, Licensed Life & Health Agent, Florida License A169316 and Alabama, NPN 553216