Medicare in Matagorda County by the numbers
| Matagorda County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,743 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 18.5% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,229 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,450 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.1% | 54.9% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 6,743 residents age 65 and older, Matagorda County is 89th among 254 Texas counties for older residents. That group is 18.5% of its population, compared with 13.7% across Texas. Another 2,484 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 61% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 29% is 75 to 84 and 10% is 85 or older. About 54.1% of people with Medicare in Matagorda County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to 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 Matagorda County
The USDA classifies Matagorda County as: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, adjacent to a metro area. In counties of this type, people often travel to a larger neighboring county for specialists, so we check whether your plan’s network reaches there.
CMS counts 8,065 Medicare beneficiaries in Matagorda County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 13% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 11%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Matagorda County, CMS reported about 642 emergency room visits and 240 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (580) and close to 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 Matagorda County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Matagorda County; we help Matagorda County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Matagorda County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in Matagorda County:
- Matagorda Regional Medical Center — Bay City (acute care; government-owned; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
- Palacios Community Medical Center — Palacios (critical access; nonprofit; 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Matagorda County
People in Matagorda County live in communities such as Bay City (17,561), Palacios (4,374) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Matagorda County, that means areas such as 77414, 77415, 77419, 77428, 77440, 77456, 77457, 77458, 77465, 77468, 77482, 77483, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Matagorda 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 Matagorda County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Matagorda County residents we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Ready to compare plans in Matagorda County?
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Matagorda County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fannin County | 6,747 | 45.9% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Erath County | 6,704 | 44.6% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Fayette County | 6,907 | 34.7% | 6% | Smaller city/town |
| Jasper County | 6,982 | 51.8% | 13% | Smaller city/town |
| Cass County | 6,444 | 51.6% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
| Val Verde County | 6,444 | 60.4% | 27% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.