Medicare in Bailey County by the numbers
| Bailey County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 1,031 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.5% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 1,117 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 407 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 36.4% | 54.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Bailey County comes in 194th for residents age 65 and up (1,031). Older adults make up 15.5% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. Another 355 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 57% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 30% is 75 to 84 and 13% is 85 or older. CMS data show 36.4% of Bailey County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 54.9% average across Texas. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Bailey County
The USDA classifies Bailey County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 1,150 Medicare beneficiaries in Bailey County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 11%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Bailey County, CMS reported about 671 emergency room visits and 209 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (580) and close to it for hospital stays (226). About 10% received home health care. These figures describe how people use care under Original Medicare; they do not show what any plan covers or costs.
Sources: CMS Medicare Geographic Variation, 2023; USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, 2023.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Bailey County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Bailey County; we help Bailey County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Bailey County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Bailey County:
- Muleshoe Area Medical Center — Muleshoe (critical access; for-profit; emergency services)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use before you enroll. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Communities and ZIP codes in Bailey County
The largest communities in Bailey County by 2023 Census population estimates are Muleshoe (4,970). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Bailey County number 4: 79324, 79344, 79347, 79371. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Bailey County?
Reach out to us: fill out our short form or call (571) 354-0146, and a licensed agent will compare the plans available to you, check your doctors and drugs, and stay with you each year at renewal. For general Medicare information, the federal helpline is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare resources from official sources
- Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, searchable by ZIP code.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Texas Department of Insurance: Texas’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Bailey County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Bailey County households, including Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Let’s check your Bailey County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Bailey County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winkler County | 921 | 40.1% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Dallam County | 796 | 30.4% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Ochiltree County | 1,285 | 22.2% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Mitchell County | 1,329 | 39.8% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Dimmit County | 1,359 | 69.5% | 34% | Smaller city/town |
| Zavala County | 1,370 | 75.5% | 41% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.