Medicare in Texas

Texas has the 3rd highest population the US. It only makes sense that it a large amount of Medicare beneficiaries. Over 32% of the state's population is 65 or older.

By the numbers for 2017*:

• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries in the US: 55,504,005
• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries in Texas: 3,633,785

Medicare Advantage (Part C) statistics:

• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage in the US: 18,478,199
• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage in Texas: 1,279,247
• Total Number of Medicare Advantage Plans in US: 2317 total
• Total Number of Medicare Advantage Plans in Texas: 136 total

Part D (stand-alone prescription drug plan) statistics:

• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a stand-alone PDP in the US: 25,078,872
• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a stand-alone PDP in Texas: 1,656,334
• Total Number of stand-alone PDP Plans in Texas: 21 plans
• Average Premium for stand-alone PDP in US: $53.14/per month
• Average Premium for stand-alone PDP in Texas: $51.72 per month

Dual Eligibles – people with both Medicare and Medicaid benefits

• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries of Dual Eligible in the US: 9,972,300
• Total number of Medicare beneficiaries of Dual Eligible in Texas: 642,900

Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone PDP's are contracted with CMS and are not available in every county in every state. Each year MA and PDP plans renew their contacts with CMS, therefore availability of MA and PDP plans can change.

Resources for Medicare Beneficiaries in Texas

Texas provides great resources to access both federal and state assistance programs for seniors.

Here are just a few:

Texas Department of Aging, under the Health and Human Services Department, works with local Areas on Aging to help seniors access several local programs by county. https://hhs.texas.gov/services/aging

Texas HICAP – Health Insurance Council and Advocacy Program, which provides free insurance counseling program for seniors. https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicare

Benefits Checkup – funded by the National Council on Aging, is a great resource to apply for state and federal assistance program. https://www.benefitscheckup.org/

Source Kaiser Family Foundation

https://www.kff.org/state-category/medicare/