Medicare Supplement Plans in Hardee County, Florida: Wauchula & Bowling Green
What Medicare Supplement plans pay in Hardee County in 2026, with cost examples, a cost calculator, local hospitals and free Medicare help
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Medicare in Hardee County, Florida
Hardee County, an inland farming county between Lakeland and Arcadia, has one Medicare-certified hospital, AdventHealth Wauchula, and one Medicare-certified nursing home, according to CMS data updated in 2026. About 18% of its roughly 26,000 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.
Hardee County at a Glance
| County seat | Wauchula |
|---|---|
| Incorporated cities | Wauchula, Bowling Green and Zolfo Springs |
| Population | 25,932 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025) |
| Residents 65 and older | 17.7% |
| People with Medicare | 4,701 (CMS, June 2026) |
| In Original Medicare, where a Medigap plan can be added | 1,794 (38.2%) |
| In Medicare Advantage or other health plans | 2,907 (61.8%) |
| Medicare-certified hospitals | 1 critical access 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.
Hardee County is part of our Central Florida Medicare Supplement region, in the citrus and cattle country along the Peace River. Its small hospital in Wauchula handles emergency and local care, and residents travel to Sebring, Arcadia or Lakeland for more.
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Medicare Supplement Plans in Hardee County
Of the 4,701 people with Medicare in Hardee County, 1,794 (38.2%) 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 lower than the statewide figure of 42.9%. Another 1,241 Hardee County residents have a stand-alone Part D drug plan, the type of drug coverage people with a Medigap plan use.
What Matters for Hardee County Residents
- A small local hospital: AdventHealth Wauchula handles emergency and local care, and many surgeries and specialty visits happen in Sebring, Arcadia or Lakeland. A Medicare Supplement plan pays the same way at all of them.
- Transfers and ambulance rides: 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 1,228 Hardee 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 Hardee 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 AdventHealth Wauchula, a Sebring 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 AdventHealth Wauchula plus 8 doctor visits and $1,500 in tests | Hospital stay and rehab the same stay plus 25 days at a Hardee 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 Hardee 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 Hardee County
AdventHealth Wauchula is Hardee County’s only hospital. It is a critical access hospital with an emergency department, a small rural hospital type that is often too small to receive a CMS overall rating. Patients who need surgery or specialty care are often transferred to larger hospitals in neighboring counties.
| Hospital | Type | Address | Phone | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdventHealth Wauchula | Critical access | 735 S 5th Ave, Wauchula, FL 33873 | (863) 773-3101 | Not rated | Care Compare | Directions |
Nearest Larger Hospitals Outside Hardee County
Sebring, about 25 miles east of Wauchula, and Arcadia, about 25 miles south, have the closest larger hospitals. Lakeland, farther north, has the region’s largest.
| Hospital | County | Address | Phone | CMS overall rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdventHealth Sebring | Highlands | 4200 Sun N Lake Blvd, Sebring, FL 33872 | (863) 314-4466 | 3 of 5 stars | Care Compare | Directions |
| HCA Florida Highlands Hospital | Highlands | 3600 S Highlands Ave, Sebring, FL 33870 | (863) 385-6101 | 3 of 5 stars | Care Compare | Directions |
| TGH DeSoto | DeSoto | 900 N Robert Ave, Arcadia, FL 34266 | (863) 494-3535 | 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. Many critical access hospitals are too small to receive an overall rating.
Map of Medicare-Certified Facilities in and Near Hardee County
The map shows Hardee County’s hospital and nursing home in Wauchula along with the nearest larger hospitals in Sebring and Arcadia. Click a marker for the address, phone number and driving directions in Google Maps.
Medicare-Certified Nursing Home in Hardee County
CMS lists one Medicare-certified nursing home in Hardee County, Vivo Healthcare Wauchula, with 79 certified beds and a CMS overall rating of 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vivo Healthcare Wauchula | 401 Orange Place, Wauchula, FL 33873 | (863) 773-3231 | 79 | 2 of 5 | Care Compare | Directions |
Ratings are CMS overall nursing home ratings from the Provider Information dataset released October 2026. Nursing homes in Highlands, DeSoto and Polk counties are also options, so search Care Compare by ZIP code to compare ratings.
Home Health, Hospice and Dialysis in Hardee County
- Home health: CMS lists no Medicare-certified home health agency with an office in Hardee County. Agencies based in neighboring counties may serve your area, so search by your ZIP code on Medicare Care Compare.
- Hospice: CMS lists no hospice agency based in Hardee 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 Hardee County, FMC Wauchula at 457 Carlton St, Wauchula, (863) 767-0016. 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 Hardee County
These public and nonprofit resources help Hardee 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, offered locally through Senior Connection Center, the Aging and Disability Resource Center that serves Hardee County | 1-800-963-5337 (Elder Helpline) floridashine.org |
| Florida Department of Health in Hardee County | Public health services, vaccinations and clinic services | 115 K.D. Revell Rd, Wauchula, FL 33873 (863) 773-4161 hardee.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 |
Hardee County Medicare FAQs
How many people in Hardee County use Original Medicare?
CMS counts 4,701 people with Medicare in Hardee County as of June 2026. Of them, 1,794 (38.2%) use Original Medicare, the coverage a Medicare Supplement plan works with, and 2,907 are in Medicare Advantage or other health plans.
What would a hospital stay at AdventHealth Wauchula 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 a transfer from AdventHealth Wauchula to a larger 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, and Plan G and Plan N pay that 20%. A new hospital admission is covered under Part A.
Should Hardee 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 Sebring, Lakeland or Tampa?
Yes. Medicare Supplement plans work with any doctor or hospital in the United States that accepts Medicare, so the same plan covers care in Wauchula, Sebring, Lakeland, Tampa or anywhere else. There are no provider networks.
Is there a hospital in Hardee County?
Yes. AdventHealth Wauchula is the county’s only hospital, a critical access hospital with an emergency department. The nearest larger hospitals are in Sebring, Arcadia and Lakeland.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in Hardee County?
SHINE offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling. In Hardee County it is offered through Senior Connection Center. Call the Elder Helpline at 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: Hardee 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.
- University of South Florida. Elder Helpline. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Florida Department of Health in Hardee County. Florida Department of Health in Hardee County. 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 Hardee County
Plan benefits are the same from every carrier, but premiums in Hardee 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 Hardee County
Medicare Supplement plans work the same way in every Hardee 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 Wauchula
The Hardee County seat, a small Central Florida city. About 4,927 people live in Wauchula, and about 515 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 AdventHealth Wauchula in Wauchula, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Bowling Green
A small farming town in northern Hardee County. About 2,226 people live in Bowling Green, and about 418 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 AdventHealth Wauchula in Wauchula, about 7 miles away in a straight line.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Zolfo Springs
A small rural town in southern Hardee County on the Peace River. About 2,158 people live in Zolfo Springs, and about 234 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 AdventHealth Wauchula in Wauchula, about 4 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 Hardee County
I help people with Medicare Supplement plans in every city, town and community in Hardee County.
- Bowling Green
- Fort Green
- Fort Green Springs
- Gardner
- Lemon Grove
- Limestone
- Ona
- Wauchula
- Zolfo Springs
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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