Medicare in Karnes County by the numbers
| Karnes County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 2,158 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 14.4% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 2,973 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,482 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 49.8% | 54.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Karnes County ranks 156th of 254 Texas counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 2,158 people in that age group, or 14.4% of residents (statewide: 13.7%). Another 751 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 59% ages 65 to 74, 28% ages 75 to 84 and 13% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 49.8% of Karnes 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 Karnes County
Karnes County is a rural county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area. Rural counties tend to have fewer local hospitals and doctors, so a plan’s network and the distance to care matter a great deal.
CMS counts 2,968 Medicare beneficiaries in Karnes 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 Karnes County, CMS reported about 642 emergency room visits and 174 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Karnes County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Karnes County; we help Karnes County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Karnes County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Karnes County:
- Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital — Kenedy (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Karnes County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Karnes County at Kenedy (3,403), Karnes City (3,112), Runge (946), Falls City (512), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Karnes County, that means areas such as 78111, 78116, 78117, 78118, 78119, 78144, 78151, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Karnes 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 Karnes County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Karnes County households, including life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Karnes County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Karnes County residents
- 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
Karnes County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | 2,172 | 50.9% | 10% | Rural |
| Madison County | 2,139 | 53.3% | 13% | Rural |
| San Augustine County | 2,096 | 48.4% | 16% | Rural |
| Runnels County | 2,078 | 31.0% | 13% | Rural |
| Somervell County | 2,017 | 47.6% | 8% | Rural |
| Coleman County | 1,998 | 30.8% | 16% | Rural |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.