The numbers behind Medicare in Brown County
| Brown County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 8,211 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.2% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 10,036 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,984 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 39.7% | 54.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Brown County comes in 74th for residents age 65 and up (8,211). Older adults make up 21.2% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. About 2,786 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 58% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Brown County is 39.7% of people with Medicare, lower than the Texas average of 54.9%. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Brown County
The USDA classifies Brown County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, not 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 9,987 Medicare beneficiaries in Brown County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 16% 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 Brown County, CMS reported about 614 emergency room visits and 224 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (580) and close to it for hospital stays (226). About 13% 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 Brown County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Brown County; we help Brown County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Brown County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Brown County:
- Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood — Brownwood (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 1 of 5)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan 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.
Brown County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Brown County by 2023 Census population estimates are Brownwood (18,790), Early (3,218), Bangs (1,543), Blanket (366). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Brown County include 76432, 76801, 76802, 76823, 76827, 76857, 76890. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Brown 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 Brown County residents
Here is what we can help Brown County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Let’s check your Brown County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Brown County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llano County | 8,515 | 46.8% | 5% | Smaller city/town |
| Cooke County | 8,531 | 41.9% | 7% | Smaller city/town |
| Gillespie County | 8,553 | 29.8% | 5% | Smaller city/town |
| Washington County | 8,599 | 40.8% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Hill County | 7,760 | 55.6% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
| Wharton County | 7,745 | 48.0% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.