Minnesota Medicare, by the Numbers

Medicare Enrollment by County

Counties covered by our city pages (29 counties, 908,525 beneficiaries). Each links to its anchor city page.

Statewide, 60.1% of beneficiaries chose Medicare Advantage in 2025, more than half, so prior authorizations, network questions, and denials worth appealing come up constantly. Counties above that line see the most of it. Minnesota is one of only three states that designs its own Medicare supplement plans, a Basic or Extended Basic plan built up with riders rather than the federal letter plans, all regulated by the Minnesota Department of Commerce: there is no birthday rule and no year-round switching yet, though a 2023 law adds an annual fall guaranteed-issue window taking effect in 2026, and Minnesota grants the six-month Medigap open enrollment at any age, so people under 65 on Medicare because of a disability get it too. About 8.4% of Minnesota seniors live below the poverty line, the group most likely to qualify for unclaimed help: federal Extra Help and the Medicare Savings Programs the Department of Human Services runs with income and asset limits. For the full rundown, sources included, see our Minnesota patient advocacy hub.