Medicare Advantage in Shelby County, Texas. About 5,417 Medicare beneficiaries live here, with roughly 54 percent in Medicare Advantage plans. Top carriers include UnitedHealthcare / AARP and Humana. For free help comparing plans, call Giron Agency, a licensed Texas agency, or visit gironagency.com.
Shelby County, TX has 5,417 Medicare beneficiaries per CMS Q1 2024 data, with about 54% enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The top medicare advantage carriers are UnitedHealthcare / AARP, Humana. We compare these plans for free and never charge a fee.
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The Shelby County medicare advantage market
About 54% of Shelby County's 5,417 Medicare beneficiaries are in Medicare Advantage — right around the national norm — so you'll find a genuine mix of competitive MA plans and Medigap options here rather than a one-sided market. UnitedHealthcare / AARP currently leads the county by enrollment, but the lowest total-cost plan for your specific drugs and doctors is often a smaller carrier — which is why we run all of them side by side instead of pushing the biggest name. Right now roughly 11 Medicare Advantage plans are available in Shelby County, so a side-by-side comparison genuinely matters. Medicare Advantage enrollment figures reflect the latest CMS data (May 2026).
Shelby County at a glance
Population (2024 ACS)
24,155
Medicare beneficiaries
5,417
MA penetration
54%
Age 65 or older
19%
What makes Shelby County different: Shelby County has had no acute-care inpatient hospital within its borders since the 54-bed Shelby Regional Medical Center in Center closed in 2013 after CMS terminated its Medicare/Medicaid certification; residents now rely on a freestanding 24/7 ER in Center (opened 2014, operated by Nacogdoches Medical Center) and must drive roughly 30 miles to Nacogdoches for hospital admission. Despite this rural setting, Medicare Advantage penetration is unusually high at about 52% of beneficiaries (2,761 of 5,364 in 2024), well above the rate of many comparable East Texas timber-and-poultry counties.
Top Medicare Advantage plans in Shelby County
UnitedHealthcare / AARP
4.5-star CMS rating
Humana
3.5-star CMS rating
Source: CMS Monthly MA Enrollment by State/County/Contract (latest Q1 2024). Enrollment figures refresh monthly at data.cms.gov.
Before you enroll: verify your hospital + doctor in Shelby County
Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own provider network — a hospital that's in-network
on one plan may be out-of-network on another. Shelby County has 3
major hospital systems. Before you enroll, check that your preferred hospital and physicians
participate in the specific plan you're considering.
Major hospitals to verify
▸Shelby County Emergency Services and Diagnostic Imaging Center (freestanding 24/7 ER & imaging, operated by Nacogdoches Medical Center, Center, TX)
▸Nacogdoches Medical Center (161-bed acute-care hospital ~30 miles away in Nacogdoches; nearest inpatient hospital serving Shelby County)
▸Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital (Nacogdoches, TX; Level III trauma center)
Call each hospital's billing office directly — or use the carrier's
network tool on the right to search by hospital name.
Free help in Shelby County: Texas HICAP — call 1-800-252-9240.
SHIP counselors offer free unbiased Medicare guidance and can run network checks at no cost.
Or skip the cross-checking — we run network checks against your prescriptions and doctors
at no cost during any consult.
Medicare AEP opens in 131 days
131 daysuntil open
Outside the windows, Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) still let you change plans if you moved, lost coverage, qualify for Extra Help / dual eligible, or had a plan terminated. Call to see if you qualify.
Major hospitals: Shelby County Emergency Services and Diagnostic Imaging Center (freestanding 24/7 ER & imaging, operated by Nacogdoches Medical Center, Center, TX), Nacogdoches Medical Center (161-bed acute-care hospital ~30 miles away in Nacogdoches; nearest inpatient hospital serving Shelby County), Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital (Nacogdoches, TX; Level III trauma center)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medicare beneficiaries live in Shelby County?▾
About 5,417 Texans in Shelby County are enrolled in Medicare as of May 2026 CMS data. About 54% are in Medicare Advantage plans; the rest are in Original Medicare (with or without Medigap).
Who are the top Medicare carriers in Shelby County?▾
The largest carriers in Shelby County are UnitedHealthcare / AARP, Humana. We work with all of them and a few smaller carriers that often have better rates for specific situations.
What SHIP resources are available in Shelby County?▾
Texas HICAP (1-800-252-9240) provides free unbiased Medicare counseling. Major hospitals in the county include Shelby County Emergency Services and Diagnostic Imaging Center (freestanding 24/7 ER & imaging, operated by Nacogdoches Medical Center, Center, TX), Nacogdoches Medical Center (161-bed acute-care hospital ~30 miles away in Nacogdoches; nearest inpatient hospital serving Shelby County), Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital (Nacogdoches, TX; Level III trauma center).
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Shelby County?▾
As of May 2026, about 11 Medicare Advantage plans are available to Shelby County residents, led by UnitedHealth Group, Inc., Humana Inc., Health Care Service Corporation, CVS Health Corporation. We compare all of them side by side at no cost.
Why is Medicare Advantage so popular in Shelby County?▾
Despite lacking an acute-care hospital since 2013, 52% of Medicare beneficiaries in Shelby County opt for Medicare Advantage. This high enrollment reflects residents' preference for bundled coverage and convenience.
When can I enroll in a Part C plan?▾
You can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 - Dec 7) or Special Enrollment Periods if you have a qualifying life event. Medicare Advantage plans typically cover hospital, medical, and drug benefits.
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