Ward County Medicare at a glance
| Ward County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 1,518 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 13.8% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 1,925 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 767 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 39.8% | 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 1,518 residents age 65 and older, Ward County is 174th among 254 Texas counties for older residents. That group is 13.8% of its population, compared with 13.7% across Texas. About 605 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 57% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 12% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Ward County is 39.8% of people with Medicare, lower than 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 Ward County
Ward 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 1,988 Medicare beneficiaries in Ward County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 17% 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 Ward County, CMS reported about 679 emergency room visits and 212 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 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Ward County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Ward County; we help Ward County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Ward County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Ward County:
- Ward Memorial Hospital — Monahans (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Ward County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Ward County live in communities such as Monahans (7,311), Thorntonville (536), Wickett (408), Grandfalls (327), Barstow (252), Pyote (67) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Ward County, that means areas such as 79719, 79742, 79756, 79777, 79788, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Ward 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.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Texas Department of Insurance: Texas’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Ward County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Ward County households, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Let’s check your Ward County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Ward County residents
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Ward County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reeves County | 1,501 | 34.7% | 27% | Smaller city/town |
| Zavala County | 1,370 | 75.5% | 41% | Smaller city/town |
| Dimmit County | 1,359 | 69.5% | 34% | Smaller city/town |
| Dawson County | 1,692 | 47.9% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Mitchell County | 1,329 | 39.8% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Ochiltree County | 1,285 | 22.2% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.