Medicare in Henderson County by the numbers
| Henderson County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 19,569 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 22.7% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 23,629 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,602 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 53.3% | 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 19,569 residents age 65 and older, Henderson County is 36th among 254 Texas counties for older residents. That group is 22.7% of its population, compared with 13.7% across Texas. The 6,582 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 59% are 65 to 74, 32% are 75 to 84 and 9% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 53.3% of Henderson County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to 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 Henderson County
Henderson County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 23,155 Medicare beneficiaries in Henderson County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 10% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Henderson County, CMS reported about 695 emergency room visits and 229 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 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Henderson County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Henderson County; we help Henderson County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Henderson County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Henderson County:
- UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital — Athens (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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.
Where people live in Henderson County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Henderson County at Athens (13,503), Gun Barrel City (6,824), Chandler (3,625), Tool (2,295), Malakoff (2,251), Mabank (1,747), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Henderson County include 75124, 75148, 75156, 75163, 75751, 75752, 75756, 75758, 75770, 75778, 75782. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Henderson 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 Henderson County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Henderson County residents we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Ready to compare plans in Henderson 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
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Henderson County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hood County | 17,530 | 48.7% | 5% | Smaller city/town |
| Kerr County | 15,787 | 35.6% | 7% | Smaller city/town |
| Angelina County | 14,982 | 50.5% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Wood County | 13,301 | 49.9% | 7% | Smaller city/town |
| Burnet County | 12,960 | 44.8% | 5% | Smaller city/town |
| Walker County | 11,590 | 58.5% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.