Hale County Medicare at a glance
| Hale County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,571 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 14.4% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 5,831 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,969 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 50.9% | 54.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 4,571 residents age 65 and older, Hale County is 110th among 254 Texas counties for older residents. That group is 14.4% of its population, compared with 13.7% across Texas. The 1,728 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 58% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 50.9% of people with Medicare in Hale County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to 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 Hale County
The USDA classifies Hale County as: urban population of 20,000 or more, 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 5,911 Medicare beneficiaries in Hale County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 12% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Hale County, CMS reported about 619 emergency room visits and 186 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 9% 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 Hale County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Hale County; we help Hale County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Hale County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Hale County:
- Covenant Hospital Plainview — Plainview (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 Hale County
The largest communities in Hale County by 2023 Census population estimates are Plainview (19,420), Abernathy (2,129), Hale Center (1,997), Petersburg (973), Edmonson (88). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Hale County include 79021, 79032, 79041, 79072, 79073, 79250, 79311. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Hale 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 Hale County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Hale 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 Hale County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Hale County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | 4,446 | 53.1% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Montague County | 4,698 | 36.9% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Panola County | 4,699 | 48.9% | 9% | Smaller city/town |
| Limestone County | 4,707 | 52.9% | 18% | Smaller city/town |
| Titus County | 4,823 | 49.6% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Howard County | 4,238 | 45.0% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.