Cameron County Medicare at a glance
| Cameron County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 61,905 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 14.5% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 73,926 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 55,429 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 75.0% | 54.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Cameron County comes in 13th for residents age 65 and up (61,905). Older adults make up 14.5% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. Another 20,354 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 56% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 33% is 75 to 84 and 11% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Cameron County is 75.0% of people with Medicare, higher than the Texas average of 54.9%. 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 Cameron County
Cameron County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 72,058 Medicare beneficiaries in Cameron County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 32% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 11%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Cameron County, CMS reported about 595 emergency room visits and 257 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (580) and higher than 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Cameron County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Cameron County; we help Cameron County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Cameron County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Cameron County:
- Harlingen Medical Center — Harlingen (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
- Valley Baptist Medical Center- Brownsville — Brownsville (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Valley Regional Medical Center — Brownsville (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
- VHS Harlingen Hospital Company — Harlingen (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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.
Cameron County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Cameron County by 2023 Census population estimates are Brownsville (190,158), Harlingen (71,510), San Benito (24,493), Los Fresnos (8,362), La Feria (6,758), Primera (5,371). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Cameron County number 16: 78520, 78521, 78526, 78535, 78550, 78552, 78559, 78566, 78567, 78575, 78578, 78583, 78586, 78592 and 2 more. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Cameron 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 Cameron County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Cameron County households, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Get a clear answer for Cameron County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
Cameron County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galveston County | 58,751 | 56.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Nueces County | 57,765 | 65.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Brazoria County | 52,042 | 57.2% | 10% | Metro |
| Bell County | 47,818 | 52.3% | 10% | Metro |
| Lubbock County | 43,685 | 52.5% | 10% | Metro |
| Smith County | 43,372 | 50.0% | 9% | Metro |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.