The numbers behind Medicare in Bell County
| Bell County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 47,818 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 12.2% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 65,213 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 34,075 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 52.3% | 54.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Bell County ranks 17th of 254 Texas counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 47,818 people in that age group, or 12.2% of residents (statewide: 13.7%). The 18,880 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Census 2023 estimates show 61% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 30% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. CMS data show 52.3% of Bell County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 54.9% average across Texas. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Bell County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Bell County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 62,310 Medicare beneficiaries in Bell County (2023). Their average age is 70, younger than the Texas average of 73. About 10% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Bell County, CMS reported about 507 emergency room visits and 203 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (580) and close to it for hospital stays (226). About 8% 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Bell County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Bell County; we help Bell County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Bell County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Bell County:
- Adventhealth Central Texas — Killeen (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple — Temple (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
- Seton Medical Center Harker Heights — Harker Heights (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
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.
Where people live in Bell County
People in Bell County live in communities such as Killeen (159,643), Temple (93,095), Harker Heights (34,447), Belton (25,171), Nolanville (7,010), Morgan's Point Resort (4,771) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Bell County, that means areas such as 76501, 76502, 76504, 76511, 76513, 76534, 76541, 76542, 76543, 76548, 76549, 76554, 76559, 76569 and 2 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Bell 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.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Texas Department of Insurance: Texas’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Bell County residents
Here is what we can help Bell County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Ready to compare plans in Bell County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Bell County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lubbock County | 43,685 | 52.5% | 10% | Metro |
| Brazoria County | 52,042 | 57.2% | 10% | Metro |
| Smith County | 43,372 | 50.0% | 9% | Metro |
| McLennan County | 41,797 | 54.0% | 13% | Metro |
| Jefferson County | 40,050 | 59.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Nueces County | 57,765 | 65.1% | 13% | Metro |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.