The numbers behind Medicare in Cottle County
| Cottle County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 340 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 26.3% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 417 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 179 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 42.9% | 54.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Cottle County comes in 239th for residents age 65 and up (340). Older adults make up 26.3% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. Another 113 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 59% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 36% is 75 to 84 and 5% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Cottle County is 42.9% of people with Medicare, lower than the Texas average of 54.9%. 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 Cottle County
The USDA classifies Cottle County as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, not adjacent to a metro area. With fewer hospitals and clinics close by, the right Medicare plan here is often the one whose network includes the providers you can really reach.
CMS counts 420 Medicare beneficiaries in Cottle County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 18% 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 Cottle County, CMS reported about 857 emergency room visits and 212 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Cottle County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Cottle County; we help Cottle County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Cottle County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Cottle County. Residents often use hospitals in neighboring counties, which matters for Medicare Advantage because a plan’s network may include or leave out the hospital you use. We check your hospitals and doctors before you enroll.
Cottle County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Cottle County at Paducah (990), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Cottle County include 79223, 79248. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Cottle 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 Cottle County residents
Here is what we can help Cottle County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Ready to compare plans in Cottle County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Cottle County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stonewall County | 340 | 24.6% | 14% | Rural |
| Briscoe County | 343 | 35.5% | 6% | Rural |
| Motley County | 295 | 33.2% | 15% | Rural |
| Foard County | 274 | 36.5% | 21% | Rural |
| Reagan County | 409 | 35.4% | 16% | Rural |
| Throckmorton County | 410 | 32.1% | 10% | Rural |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.