How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Texas?

Texas has the second-highest Medicare enrollment of any state, trailing only Florida. Millions of Texans are on Medicare across urban metros and vast rural regions, and Medicare Advantage now accounts for roughly half of Texas Medicare enrollment, with the balance on Original Medicare — frequently paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Texas?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Texas include Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP-branded), Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Cigna, and WellCare. Availability varies dramatically between the major metros (Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin) and rural Texas counties where fewer carriers participate.

How do rural Texas counties affect Medicare plan choice?

In rural West Texas, the Panhandle, South Texas, and parts of East Texas, Medicare Advantage plan availability is often narrower and provider networks are thinner. For beneficiaries who drive to Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene, or out-of-area specialists, Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan (which has no network) is often a better fit than a network-based Advantage HMO.

When is Texas Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31. Turning-65 beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap competitive in Texas?

Yes. Texas has a healthy Medigap market, with all federal letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for eligible beneficiaries) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so enrolling in Medigap when you first become eligible is generally the lowest-friction path.

Texas · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Texas Medicare plans for 2026.

Texas has the second-largest Medicare population in the country after Florida, with wide-open rural geography and highly competitive metro markets. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, BCBSTX, Cigna, and WellCare.

Talk to a licensed Texas Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

4.8M

Texas Medicare beneficiaries

~50%

on Medicare Advantage in TX

All 254

Texas counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Texas

The right answer for a Houston or Dallas metro beneficiary can be very different from the right answer for someone near Lubbock, Midland, or the Rio Grande Valley.

Medicare Advantage in Texas

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and Travis counties have many $0-premium MA plans with dental, vision, hearing, transportation, and OTC allowances.

Most Texas MA plans are HMOs with local networks across Baylor Scott & White, Methodist, Memorial Hermann, Texas Health Resources, Houston Methodist, and HCA. We verify your doctors first.

Medigap in Texas

Pairs with Original Medicare and pays the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Often the preferred fit for rural Texas beneficiaries, frequent travelers, and anyone who may need care at MD Anderson or UT Southwestern. Medigap carriers typically underwrite outside the 6-month Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Texas

Availability and network depth vary sharply between metros and rural counties.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare (AARP)

Two of the largest Medicare Advantage carriers in Texas, with broad statewide footprints across HMO, PPO, and D-SNP plans. UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded Medigap plans are among the most commonly held in the state.

Aetna & BlueCross BlueShield of Texas

Aetna (CVS Health) offers competitive Texas MA plans with integrated CVS Caremark pharmacy benefits. BCBSTX is the state's legacy Blue carrier with strong PPO and HMO options in Texas metros and a well-known Medigap book.

Cigna

Grown Medicare Advantage participation across Texas with $0-premium HMOs. Frequently competitive in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.

WellCare

Part of Centene, with a strong presence in Texas standalone Part D and D-SNPs for dual-eligible beneficiaries.

Rural Texas

Medicare in rural and small-town Texas

Texas has more rural land area than any other state, and that geography affects plan choice.

In rural Texas counties, the Medicare Advantage landscape is different from Houston or Dallas: fewer carriers, narrower HMO networks, and sometimes a long drive to the nearest in-network specialist.

Network-free care: Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan lets you see any Medicare-accepting provider anywhere in the U.S. For West Texas, the Panhandle, and South Texas beneficiaries who travel for specialty care, this often outweighs an MA plan's extra benefits.
Rural PPOs: In some counties, regional Medicare Advantage PPOs offer broader out-of-network flexibility than HMOs. We check whether a PPO is available in your ZIP.
Part D pharmacy choice: In small towns, whether the local independent pharmacy is "preferred" on your Part D plan can change your annual drug cost meaningfully.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Texas

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date. Inside this window, Texas Medigap carriers cannot decline you or charge more based on health.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into or within Texas, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or entering a nursing facility each may trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Texas Medicare FAQ

I travel between Texas and another state — what fits best?

For part-year Texans (or Texans who travel extensively), Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan usually travels better than Medicare Advantage. Most Texas MA plans cover only emergency and urgent care outside their network area, while Medigap works with any Medicare-accepting provider nationwide.

Can I use MD Anderson or UT Southwestern on any plan?

Not necessarily. Access depends on whether the specific facility and treating physician are in your plan's network. We confirm network status for your exact providers before you enroll — and this is one of the most common reasons Texas beneficiaries choose Original Medicare plus Medigap.

What if I don't qualify for premium-free Part A?

Most Texans qualify for premium-free Part A based on work history (40+ quarters), but some don't. We review your situation, including spousal work history, before you enroll.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Texas fit.

Coverage

Texas metros & rural counties we serve

All 254 Texas counties — from Houston to the Panhandle, the Rio Grande Valley to East Texas. Most active Medicare markets:

Houston Dallas San Antonio Austin Fort Worth El Paso Arlington Corpus Christi Plano Lubbock Laredo Garland Irving Amarillo Brownsville Killeen Waco Tyler Midland McAllen + rural Texas

★★★★★

$1,920 / yr saved

on a Medigap re-shop · Lubbock, TX

"My SilverEdge advisor found me a different carrier's Plan G with the exact same coverage as my old one, but $160/month less. Underwriting passed in three days. Best part: I can still see any Medicare-accepting specialist in Texas without a referral."

James M.

Medigap re-shop · Lubbock, TX

Ready to compare Texas Medicare plans?

Free, no pressure. Licensed in Texas and all 50 states. We'll review your doctors, drugs, and budget — and walk you through the right Medicare combination for you.

(866) 534-1886 Request a callback