Medicare Supplement Plans in Suwannee County, Florida: Live Oak & Branford
What Medicare Supplement plans pay in Suwannee County in 2026, with cost examples, a cost calculator, local hospitals and free Medicare help
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Medicare in Suwannee County, Florida
Suwannee County, home to Live Oak and Branford, sits along the Suwannee River between Lake City and Madison. CMS lists no hospital in the county, but HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency in Live Oak is a 24-hour freestanding emergency room, and CMS lists three Medicare-certified nursing homes, according to data updated in 2026. About 24% of its roughly 48,000 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.
Suwannee County at a Glance
| County seat | Live Oak |
|---|---|
| Incorporated city and town | Live Oak and Branford |
| Other communities | Wellborn, McAlpin, O’Brien and Dowling Park |
| Population | 48,149 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025) |
| Residents 65 and older | 24.3% |
| People with Medicare | 12,518 (CMS, June 2026) |
| In Original Medicare, where a Medigap plan can be added | 5,751 (45.9%) |
| In Medicare Advantage or other health plans | 6,767 (54.1%) |
| Medicare-certified hospitals | None in the county; HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency is a 24-hour freestanding ER |
| Medicare-certified nursing homes | 3 |
| Medicare-certified dialysis facilities | 1 |
| Medicare-certified home health agencies with offices in the county | 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.
Suwannee County is part of our North Central Florida Medicare Supplement region, bounded by the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers between Lake City and Madison. CMS lists no hospital in the county, but HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency in Live Oak is open around the clock. Residents use hospitals in Lake City and travel to Gainesville or Tallahassee for specialists.
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Medicare Supplement Plans in Suwannee County
Of the 12,518 people with Medicare in Suwannee County, 5,751 (45.9%) 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 3,491 Suwannee County residents have a stand-alone Part D drug plan, the type of drug coverage people with a Medigap plan use.
What Matters for Suwannee County Residents
- No hospital in the county: Hospital stays for Suwannee County residents happen in Lake City, Gainesville or another county. A Medicare Supplement plan pays the same way at any hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare, with no networks to check.
- 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 when the nearest hospital is in another county.
- 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 2,484 Suwannee 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 Suwannee 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 HCA Florida Lake City Hospital, a Gainesville 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 HCA Florida Lake City Hospital plus 8 doctor visits and $1,500 in tests | Hospital stay and rehab the same stay plus 25 days at a Suwannee 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 Suwannee 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.
Hospitals and Emergency Care Serving Suwannee County
CMS lists no hospital in Suwannee County. HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency at 1100 11th St SW in Live Oak, (386) 339-6200, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, according to HCA Florida Healthcare. It is a freestanding emergency room that is part of HCA Florida Lake City Hospital.
HCA Florida Lake City Hospital is the nearest general hospital. For specialists and complex care, many residents go to Gainesville or Tallahassee.
Nearest Hospitals Outside Suwannee County
All three have emergency departments. The Lake City VA Medical Center serves eligible veterans; Medicare generally does not pay for care at VA facilities, so veterans with both should know which coverage applies. Madison County Memorial is a critical access hospital, a type that is often too small to receive a CMS overall rating.
| Hospital | County | Address | Phone | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCA Florida Lake City Hospital | Columbia | 340 NW Commerce Dr, Lake City, FL 32055 | (386) 719-9000 | 3 of 5 stars | Care Compare | Directions |
| Lake City VA Medical Center | Columbia | 619 S Marion Ave, Lake City, FL 32025 | (386) 755-3016 | Not rated | Care Compare | Directions |
| Madison County Memorial Hospital | Madison | 224 NW Crane Ave, Madison, FL 32340 | (850) 973-2271 | Not rated | 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 Serving Suwannee County
The map shows HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency, the Good Samaritan Center and Live Oak Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, along with the nearest hospitals in Lake City and Madison. Surrey Place Nursing Center, 110 SE Lee Ave in Live Oak, could not be placed on the map. The dialysis facility and home health agency are listed below but not mapped. Click a marker for the address, phone number and driving directions in Google Maps.
Medicare-Certified Nursing Homes in Suwannee County
CMS lists three Medicare-certified nursing homes in Suwannee County with 401 certified beds. Good Samaritan Center holds 5 stars, Surrey Place Nursing Center holds 4 stars and Live Oak Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center holds 1 star, so compare before you choose. 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.
Show all 3 nursing homes with ratings and directions
| Nursing home | Address | Phone | Certified beds | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Center | 10676 Marvin Jones Blvd, Live Oak, FL 32060 | (386) 658-5550 | 161 | 5 of 5 | Care Compare | Directions |
| Live Oak Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center | 1620 Helvenston St SE, Live Oak, FL 32064 | (386) 362-7860 | 180 | 1 of 5 | Care Compare | Directions |
| Surrey Place Nursing Center | 110 SE Lee Ave, Live Oak, FL 32064 | (386) 364-5961 | 60 | 4 of 5 | Care Compare | Directions |
Ratings are CMS overall nursing home ratings from the Provider Information dataset released October 2026. Some facilities, such as those inside continuing care retirement communities, may limit admission to their own residents. Call to confirm.
Home Health, Hospice and Dialysis in Suwannee County
- Home health: CMS lists one Medicare-certified home health agency with an office in Suwannee County: Advent Christian Village Home Care Agency. Agencies based in neighboring counties may also serve your area. Medicare covers home health care with no coinsurance when you qualify, so Medigap matters less here. Search by ZIP code on Medicare Care Compare.
- Hospice: CMS lists no Medicare-certified hospice agency based in Suwannee County. Agencies based in Columbia and other neighboring counties may 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 Suwannee County: FMC Dialysis Services – Live Oak, (386) 364-6604. Dialysis is a Part B service, so the 20% coinsurance applies, and every Medigap plan helps pay it.
- 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 Suwannee County
These public and nonprofit resources help Suwannee 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 Elder Options, the Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging | 100 SW 75th Street, Suite 301, Gainesville, FL 32607 1-800-963-5337 floridashine.org |
| Florida Department of Health in Suwannee County | Public health services, vaccinations and clinic services | 915 Nobles Ferry Rd, Live Oak, FL 32064 (386) 362-2708 suwannee.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 |
Suwannee County Medicare FAQs
How many people in Suwannee County use Original Medicare?
CMS counts 12,518 people with Medicare in Suwannee County as of June 2026. Of them, 5,751 (45.9%) use Original Medicare, the coverage a Medicare Supplement plan works with, and 6,767 are in Medicare Advantage or other health plans.
What would a hospital stay at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital 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.
Will my Medicare Supplement plan cover care in Gainesville 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 Lake City, Gainesville, Tallahassee or anywhere else. There are no provider networks.
Should Suwannee 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.
Does Medicare cover an ambulance to a hospital outside Suwannee County?
Medicare Part B covers emergency ambulance transportation to the nearest appropriate facility. After the $283 Part B deductible you normally pay 20% of the approved amount, and Plan G and Plan N pay that 20%.
Is there a hospital in Suwannee County?
CMS lists no hospital in Suwannee County. HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency in Live Oak is a 24-hour freestanding emergency room. The nearest general hospital is HCA Florida Lake City Hospital.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Suwannee County?
SHINE offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling through Elder Options, the Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging. Call 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: Suwannee 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.
- HCA Florida Healthcare. HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Florida Department of Health in Suwannee County. Contact Us. 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 Suwannee County
Plan benefits are the same from every carrier, but premiums in Suwannee 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 Suwannee County
Medicare Supplement plans work the same way in every Suwannee 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 Live Oak
The Suwannee County seat, a small North Florida city. About 6,985 people live in Live Oak, and about 1,092 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 HCA Florida Suwannee Emergency in Live Oak, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Branford
A small river town on the Suwannee River in southern Suwannee County. About 950 people live in Branford, and about 108 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 HCA Florida Lake City Hospital in Lake City, about 21 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 Suwannee County
I help people with Medicare Supplement plans in every city, town and community in Suwannee County.
- Branford
- Live Oak
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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