Medicare in Winkler County by the numbers
| Winkler County | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 921 | 4,188,063 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 12.4% | 13.7% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 1,109 | 5,048,909 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 445 | 2,770,279 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 40.1% | 54.9% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Texas’s 254 counties, Winkler County comes in 201st for residents age 65 and up (921). Older adults make up 12.4% of the population here; the state figure is 13.7%. Another 416 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 57% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 34% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Winkler County is 40.1% 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 Winkler County
Winkler 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 1,153 Medicare beneficiaries in Winkler County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Texas average of 73. About 18% 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 Winkler County, CMS reported about 721 emergency room visits and 206 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 13% 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 Winkler County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Winkler County; we help Winkler County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Winkler County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Winkler County:
- Winkler County Memorial Hospital — Kermit (critical access; government-owned; emergency services)
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 Winkler County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Winkler County at Kermit (5,952), Wink (876), Monahans (0), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Winkler County include 79745, 79789. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Winkler 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 Winkler County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Winkler County households, including ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Ready to compare plans in Winkler County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Winkler County compared with similar Texas counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey County | 1,031 | 36.4% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Dallam County | 796 | 30.4% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Ochiltree County | 1,285 | 22.2% | 10% | Smaller city/town |
| Mitchell County | 1,329 | 39.8% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Dimmit County | 1,359 | 69.5% | 34% | Smaller city/town |
| Zavala County | 1,370 | 75.5% | 41% | Smaller city/town |
See every Texas county in our Texas directory or go to our Texas Medicare hub.