27 days left in Annual Enrollment (ends Dec. 7)
Texas Medicare, made clear
Medicare works the same across the country, but your choices in Texas depend on your county: from a handful of plans in far West Texas to dozens around Houston. Plain-English guides from licensed insurance agents on Texas Medicaid and STAR+PLUS, TRS and ERS retiree coverage, Medigap rules and local help.
Pick your Medicare Advantage company and county to see if your plan ends December 31.
Enter your ZIP code to see the Medicare plans available where you live.
You'll go to PlanMatchMedicare.com, a plan comparison site from Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. Only your ZIP code is sent.
Find an independent licensed insurance agent near you. No cost to you.
These independent licensed insurance agents work with Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. When they enroll you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life may be paid by the insurance company. Learn more.
Or call a licensed insurance agent at (512) SENIORS (512-736-4677), TTY 711.
Licensed insurance agents for Texas
These independent insurance agents are licensed in Texas and work with Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. When they enroll you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life may be paid by the insurance company. Learn more.
Start with where you are
Plain-English guides for the moments when Medicare decisions come up.
Turning 65 in Texas
A month-by-month checklist: Social Security, Parts A and B, Medigap's one-time window, TRS and ERS, Texas Medicaid help.
Read the guideMoving to Texas
What moves with you, what doesn't, and the deadline to pick a plan where you now live.
Read the guideOpen Enrollment for 2027
October 15 to December 7: what to check in your plan's letter and what's changing in Texas.
Read the guideMedicare Advantage or Medigap?
How the two paths compare in Texas: networks, travel, costs and the one-time Medigap window.
Read the guideFind the right Medicare plan
Tools and licensed insurance agents in Texas to help you compare coverage and costs.
Talk to an agent
Guidance from a licensed insurance agent in Texas, at no cost to you.
Find an agentCompare plans
Compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D plans sold in your ZIP code.
Compare now2026 costs
Premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits for the year.
See costsEnrollment dates
Know when to enroll: your Initial Enrollment Period, Open Enrollment and special enrollment periods.
View datesThe four parts of Medicare
Each part covers different services. Here's how each works for Texans.
Part A: Hospital insurance
Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health care.
Part B: Medical insurance
Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and medical equipment.
Part C: Medicare Advantage
Private plans that bundle Parts A, B and usually D. Some also offer extra benefits, such as dental or vision.
Part D: Prescription drugs
Covers prescription drugs through private plans. Out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 in 2026.
Medicare, the Texas way
STAR+PLUS, TRS and ERS, Winter Texans, the border, hurricane season: the parts of Medicare that work differently here.
Texas Medicaid and STAR+PLUS
How Texas Medicaid, STAR+PLUS and the savings programs work with Medicare if you qualify for both.
Plans differ by county
For 2027, CMS lists 49 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Harris County and 4 in Brewster County.
Texas Medigap rules
When you can buy a Medigap policy, your guaranteed issue rights and what Texas law adds.
TRS-Care and ERS retirees
Retired teachers and state employees: how your retiree plan works with Medicare, and what happens if you change plans.
Winter Texans
Spending the winter in the Valley? Keeping your coverage when you split the year between Texas and home.
Hurricanes, floods and Medicare
Prescriptions, oxygen, dialysis and your plan when a storm or flood hits, and the special enrollment period after a disaster.
Medicare and Mexico
What Medicare does and doesn't pay across the border, and what to know if you live near it.
Not sure where to start?
A licensed insurance agent in Texas can review your situation, compare plans from the companies they work with in your county and help you enroll, at no cost to you.
Find a Texas agentAgents are paid by insurance companies, not by you. If an agent enrolls you in a plan, the agent and Benefits Life, the publisher of this site, may be paid by the insurance company.
Medicare by county in Texas
Find agents and the 2027 plans sold where you live. Plan counts are Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone, from CMS.
Harris County
Dallas County
Tarrant County
Bexar County
Travis County
Hidalgo County
El Paso County
Collin County
What does Medicare cost?
Key numbers every Texas beneficiary should know.
Frequently asked questions about Medicare in Texas
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
When can I enroll in Medicare in Texas?
Your Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it. Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 each year. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31.
Are the same Medicare Advantage plans sold everywhere in Texas?
No. Plans are sold county by county: the Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth and San Antonio areas have the most to choose from, and rural counties of West Texas and the Panhandle far fewer. Original Medicare, Medigap and standalone Part D plans are available in every county. See your county's page for its CMS plan counts.
I'm a Winter Texan. Can I use my Medicare here?
Yes. Original Medicare works with any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. A Medicare Advantage plan from your home state usually covers only emergency and urgent care in Texas unless it has a nationwide or visitor network, so check before you travel.
What is the Part B premium in 2026?
The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month. People with higher incomes pay more through IRMAA.
How do I find a licensed insurance agent in Texas?
Use the agent search at the top of this page, or call (512) SENIORS (512-736-4677), TTY 711. Agents listed here are licensed in Texas and can compare plans with you at no cost to you.