Texas Medicare Plans

What Medicare Plans Are Available In Texas?

Choosing the best Medicare plan option can be difficult. In Texas there are hundreds of Medicare Advantage plans to compare, plus many Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans. Do this to start finding the best coverage for you:

• Understand the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage (Part C)
• Decide if Medicare Supplement is your preferred option
• Think about your drug plan coverage
• Consider talking with a local Medicare insurance agent

Why It Pays To Talk With A Local Medicare Insurance Agent

Medicare is a national program. Your plan options can be very local. Medicare is confusing (to say the least). Making a mistake can be costly. Sometimes you can change your option � but not always.

Calling one local Medicare insurance agent can be a valuable step. Many today offer BOTH Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement solutions.

The Association maintains an online directory of local Medicare insurance agents. It's free to access and 100% private. You only enter your Zip Code.

What Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans Are Available In Texas?

In Texas, 43 percent of Medicare beneficiaries opted for a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021.

There are 337 Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) available in Texas (2022).

In Texas, plan benefits and costs vary according to your location. Some plans require you to live in their service area for at least six months of the year. So if you divide your time between different areas, Medicare Advantage may not work for you.

Some Medicare Advantage plans in Texas are premium-free ($0 premium cost). But these plans may have an element of cost-sharing that can add up quickly.

And 54 MA plans offer innovative benefits, such as wellness and health care planning, reduced cost-sharing, and rewards and incentives programs.

In Texas, there are several types of MA plans available. These can vary depending on the insurance provider and where you live. There are HMO, PPO, PFFS, and SNP plans.

Texas MA Plans Available by City

The number of options available can be overwhelming. That's why it pays to talk with someone who has professional experience. Here are the numbers of available MA plans (2021) for some key Texas cities:

• Corpus Christi — 17
• Dallas — 39
• El Paso — 29
• Houston — 44
• San Antonio — 33

Major Texas Medicare Advantage Insurers

• UnitedHealthcare
• Humana
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• CVS (Aetna)
• Kaiser Permanente
• Cigna

Medicare Star Ratings System — A Great Aid For Consumers

Medicare provides valuable information to help you choose a Medicare Advantage plan through its star ratings system. This measures how well Medicare Advantage plans perform in five categories, on a scale from 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best):

• Customer service
• Preventive care
• Managing chronic conditions
• Plan responsiveness
• Member complaints (including leaving the plan)

When you speak to any Medicare insurance agent, ask them for the plan's current and prior year's star rating.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans In Texas

Texas residents have many Medicare Supplement plans to choose from. Rates for plans can vary significantly. That makes comparison shopping very important.

Some of the key Medigap insurance companies offering policies in Texas include:

• UnitedHealthcare (AARP)
• Aetna Health Insurance Company
• Capitol Life Insurance
• Cigna
• Globe Life
• Humana
• Medico
• Mutual of Omaha
• Transamerica Life

Additional Medicare Resources

Learn more about your Medicare options with these helpful resources:

• Important Medicare Dates and Enrollment Deadlines
• Medicare Insurance in Texas
• Texas Medicare Resources — Location Guide
• Medigap Plan G Price Index — Rates for Top Metro Areas
• Find a Local Medicare Insurance Agent in Texas