The numbers behind Medicare in Donley County
| Donley County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 829 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.8% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 961 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 323 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 33.6% | 54.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Donley County ranks 208th of 254 Texas counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 829 people in that age group, or 25.8% of residents (statewide: 13.7%). About 238 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 54% ages 65 to 74, 34% ages 75 to 84 and 12% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 33.6% of Donley 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 Donley County
Donley 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 981 Medicare beneficiaries in Donley County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 14% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Donley County, CMS reported about 452 emergency room visits and 207 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (580) and close to it for hospital stays (226). About 13% 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Donley County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Donley County; we help Donley County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Donley County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Donley County. Residents often use hospitals in neighboring counties, which matters for Medicare Advantage because a plan’s network may include or leave out the hospital you use. We check your hospitals and doctors before you enroll.
Where people live in Donley County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Donley County at Clarendon (1,859), Howardwick (364), Hedley (265), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Donley County number 3: 79226, 79237, 79240. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Donley 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 Donley County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Donley 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.
Get a clear answer for Donley County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Donley County residents
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Donley County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinney County | 823 | 41.7% | 18% | Rural |
| Baylor County | 820 | 32.3% | 16% | Rural |
| Jeff Davis County | 840 | 36.2% | 8% | Rural |
| Hardeman County | 812 | 33.9% | 16% | Rural |
| Jim Hogg County | 853 | 70.7% | 38% | Rural |
| Hartley County | 858 | 31.0% | 9% | Rural |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.