The numbers behind Medicare in Ector County
| Ector County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 16,473 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 10.0% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 21,841 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 11,901 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.5% | 54.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Ector County comes in 44th for residents age 65 and up (16,473). Older adults make up 10.0% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. The 7,275 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 62% ages 65 to 74, 29% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Ector County is 54.5% of people with Medicare, close to 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 Ector County
Ector County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 21,840 Medicare beneficiaries in Ector 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 Ector County, CMS reported about 574 emergency room visits and 228 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 11% 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 Ector County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Ector County; we help Ector County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Ector County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Ector County:
- Medical Center Hospital — Odessa (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Odessa Regional Medical Center — Odessa (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. 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 Ector County
People in Ector County live in communities such as Odessa (111,663), Goldsmith (226) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Ector County number 10: 79741, 79758, 79759, 79761, 79762, 79763, 79764, 79766, 79769, 79776. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Ector 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 Ector County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Ector County residents we can compare ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Get a clear answer for Ector County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Ector County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potter County | 16,643 | 50.9% | 16% | Metro |
| Bowie County | 16,221 | 43.9% | 13% | Metro |
| Rockwall County | 16,728 | 43.5% | 7% | Metro |
| Victoria County | 16,078 | 54.2% | 10% | Metro |
| Bastrop County | 17,331 | 54.4% | 8% | Metro |
| Hunt County | 17,498 | 47.5% | 11% | Metro |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.