Erath County Medicare at a glance
| Erath County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,704 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.2% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 7,896 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,518 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 44.6% | 54.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Erath County comes in 91st for residents age 65 and up (6,704). Older adults make up 15.2% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. Another 2,526 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 59% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 44.6% of Erath 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 Erath County
Erath County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 7,787 Medicare beneficiaries in Erath County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 13% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Erath County, CMS reported about 588 emergency room visits and 198 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (580) and lower than 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Erath County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Erath County; we help Erath County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Erath County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Erath County:
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenvill — Stephenville (acute care; nonprofit; 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 Erath County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Erath County at Stephenville (21,946), Dublin (3,422), Hico (0), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Erath County number 5: 76401, 76402, 76433, 76446, 76463. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Erath 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 Erath County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Erath 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 Erath County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Erath County residents
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Erath County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matagorda County | 6,743 | 54.1% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Fannin County | 6,747 | 45.9% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Fayette County | 6,907 | 34.7% | 6% | Smaller city/town |
| Cass County | 6,444 | 51.6% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Val Verde County | 6,444 | 60.4% | 27% | Smaller city/town |
| Jasper County | 6,982 | 51.8% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.