Medicare in Taylor County by the numbers
| Taylor County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 22,135 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 15.1% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 28,122 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 12,123 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 43.1% | 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 22,135 residents age 65 and older, Taylor County is 32nd among 254 Texas counties for older residents. That group is 15.1% of its population, compared with 13.7% across Texas. About 7,718 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 56% are 65 to 74, 32% are 75 to 84 and 12% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Taylor County is 43.1% of people with Medicare, 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 Taylor County
Taylor County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 28,056 Medicare beneficiaries in Taylor 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, 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 Taylor County, CMS reported about 697 emergency room visits and 271 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 12% 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 Taylor County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Taylor County; we help Taylor County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Taylor County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Taylor County:
- Hendrick Medical Center — Abilene (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 of 5)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan 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 Taylor County
People in Taylor County live in communities such as Abilene (123,267), Merkel (2,433), Tye (1,220), Tuscola (839), Buffalo Gap (617), Lawn (310) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Taylor County include 79508, 79530, 79536, 79541, 79562, 79563, 79566, 79602, 79603, 79605, 79606, 79607, 79699. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Taylor 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 Taylor County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Taylor County residents we can compare ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Let’s check your Taylor County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Taylor County residents
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Taylor County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Green County | 20,760 | 48.7% | 13% | Metro |
| Gregg County | 20,557 | 55.1% | 11% | Metro |
| Randall County | 23,864 | 40.6% | 6% | Metro |
| Wichita County | 20,379 | 36.8% | 14% | Metro |
| Kaufman County | 19,347 | 54.2% | 11% | Metro |
| Midland County | 19,060 | 40.8% | 11% | Metro |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.