The numbers behind Medicare in Hays County
| Hays County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 34,785 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 12.4% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 43,139 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 21,320 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 49.4% | 54.9% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Hays County ranks 23rd of 254 Texas counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 34,785 people in that age group, or 12.4% of residents (statewide: 13.7%). About 13,753 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 64% ages 65 to 74, 29% ages 75 to 84 and 7% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 49.4% of Hays 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 Hays County
Hays County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 39,488 Medicare beneficiaries in Hays County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 6% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Hays County, CMS reported about 480 emergency room visits and 176 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (580) and lower than it for hospital stays (226). About 9% 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 Hays County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Hays County; we help Hays County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Hays County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Hays County:
- Ascension Seton Hays — Kyle (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
- Ascension Seton Southwest — Austin (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services)
- Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Buda — Buda (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services)
- CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital-San Marcos — San Marcos (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 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.
Hays County: communities and ZIP codes
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Hays County at San Marcos (71,568), Kyle (62,548), Buda (16,030), Dripping Springs (8,689), Wimberley (2,881), Woodcreek (1,872), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Hays County number 7: 78610, 78619, 78620, 78640, 78666, 78676, 78737. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Hays 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 Hays County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Hays County residents we can compare group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Let’s check your Hays County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Hays County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comal County | 36,365 | 44.9% | 5% | Metro |
| Jefferson County | 40,050 | 59.9% | 14% | Metro |
| Ellis County | 29,218 | 53.4% | 9% | Metro |
| Johnson County | 28,653 | 60.5% | 10% | Metro |
| Guadalupe County | 28,497 | 46.9% | 7% | Metro |
| Webb County | 28,470 | 64.9% | 39% | Metro |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.