OBJECTIVES: To examine the mortality and readmission rates of patients diagnosed with stroke in the US Medicare population. METHODS: Using Medicare data, mortality and readmission rates were calculated among patients diagnosed with stroke (International Classification of Diseases, 9^th Revision, Clinical Modification codes: 433, 434, 436). Patients with continuous enrollment in a Fee-for-service Medicare health plan during the calendar year and ≥2 years prior were restricted. Using sex-specific age groups, the age- and sex-adjusted readmission rates were calculated using direct standardization for the US population aged ≥65 years in 2010. RESULTS: The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates increased by 22.2% (9 to 11 per 1000 persons) and by 18.2% (22 to 26 per 1000 persons), respectively, from 2008 to 2013. The overall adjusted readmission rates were 8.70% (2008), 8.60% (2009), 8.58% (2010), 9.53% (2011), 9.12% (2012), and 7.43% (2013). Male patients had higher readmission rates than female patients across all study years. Readmission rates were highest among patients aged 65-69 years during 2008 (9.72%), 2011 (10.25%), and 2012 (10.04%), whereas readmission rates were highest among patients aged 70-74 in 2009 (9.65%) and among those aged 75-79 in 2010 (10.11%) and 2013 (7.96%). Readmission rates were highest among Hispanic patients in 2009 (9.07%), other race in 2008 (13.94%), North American Native in 2010 (15.03%) and 2011 (12.69%), and Asian patients in 2012 (11.10%) and 2013 (9.24%). Readmission rate results varied according to state. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to 2008, Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with stroke had higher mortality rates from 2009 to 2013, with the highest 1-year mortality rate in 2012. Overall readmission rates were highest during 2011 and decreased in 2012 and 2013. Readmission rate results varied by age group, race, and state.