Medicare in Howard County by the numbers
| Howard County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,238 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 13.9% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 5,322 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,395 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 45.0% | 54.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Howard County ranks 113th of 254 Texas counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 4,238 people in that age group, or 13.9% of residents (statewide: 13.7%). The 1,756 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 63% ages 65 to 74, 27% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Howard County is 45.0% of people with Medicare, lower than 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 Howard County
Howard County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 20,000 or more, 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 5,532 Medicare beneficiaries in Howard County (2023). Their average age is 73, 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 Howard County, CMS reported about 675 emergency room visits and 184 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (580) and lower than it for hospital stays (226). About 13% 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 Howard County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Howard County; we help Howard County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Howard County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Howard County:
- Scenic Mountain Medical Center — Big Spring (acute care; for-profit; emergency services)
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.
Howard County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Howard County by 2023 Census population estimates are Big Spring (22,373), Coahoma (902), Forsan (215). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Howard County number 5: 79511, 79720, 79721, 79733, 79748. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Howard 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 Howard County residents
Here is what we can help Howard 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 Howard 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
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Howard County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kleberg County | 4,149 | 70.0% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
| Uvalde County | 4,100 | 57.3% | 22% | Smaller city/town |
| DeWitt County | 4,069 | 46.3% | 11% | Smaller city/town |
| Shelby County | 4,446 | 53.1% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Bee County | 3,975 | 67.6% | 20% | Smaller city/town |
| Calhoun County | 3,944 | 51.4% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.