Gaines County Medicare at a glance
| Gaines County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 2,081 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 9.2% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 2,333 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 874 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 37.5% | 54.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Gaines County ranks 159th of 254 Texas counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 2,081 people in that age group, or 9.2% of residents (statewide: 13.7%). Another 1,071 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 61% are 65 to 74, 27% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 37.5% of Gaines 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 Gaines County
Gaines County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 2,222 Medicare beneficiaries in Gaines County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 21% 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 Gaines County, CMS reported about 691 emergency room visits and 207 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (580) and close to it for hospital stays (226). About 10% 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 Gaines County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Gaines County; we help Gaines County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Gaines County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Gaines County:
- Memorial Hospital — Seminole (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.
Gaines County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Gaines County at Seminole (7,231), Seagraves (2,227), Denver City (0), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Gaines County, that means areas such as 79323, 79342, 79359, 79360, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Gaines 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 Gaines County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Gaines County residents we can compare life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Gaines County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Gaines County residents
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Gaines County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pecos County | 1,995 | 48.5% | 23% | Smaller city/town |
| Frio County | 2,201 | 70.5% | 29% | Smaller city/town |
| Stephens County | 1,939 | 40.6% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Andrews County | 1,936 | 50.5% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Lamb County | 2,246 | 47.9% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Brewster County | 2,292 | 39.3% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.