The numbers behind Medicare in Clay County
| Clay County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 2,599 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 24.2% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 2,898 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 902 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 31.1% | 54.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Clay County comes in 145th for residents age 65 and up (2,599). Older adults make up 24.2% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. The 883 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 58% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 31.1% of people with Medicare in Clay County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is 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 Clay County
Clay County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 2,801 Medicare beneficiaries in Clay County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 9% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Clay County, CMS reported about 667 emergency room visits and 267 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (580) and higher than it for hospital stays (226). About 14% 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 Clay County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Clay County; we help Clay County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Clay County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Clay County:
- Clay County Memorial Hospital — Henrietta (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
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.
Where people live in Clay County
The largest communities in Clay County by 2023 Census population estimates are Henrietta (3,239), Petrolia (539), Dean (522), Byers (472), Bellevue (302), Jolly (179). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Clay County number 5: 76228, 76305, 76357, 76365, 76377. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Clay 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 Clay County residents
Here is what we can help Clay County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Clay County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Clay County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Clay County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Callahan County | 3,126 | 41.5% | 11% | Metro |
| Jones County | 3,154 | 43.3% | 14% | Metro |
| Archer County | 1,947 | 27.5% | 8% | Metro |
| Falls County | 3,330 | 62.0% | 17% | Metro |
| Goliad County | 1,859 | 49.7% | 7% | Metro |
| Hockley County | 3,362 | 53.0% | 12% | Metro |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.