Medicare Advantage in Willacy County, Texas. About 3,747 Medicare beneficiaries live here, with roughly 79 percent in Medicare Advantage plans. Top carriers include Cigna / HealthSpring - dominant MA carrier in the county; 417 reflects Cigna's combined HMO enrollment and UnitedHealthcare / AARP Medicare Advantage. For free help comparing plans, call Giron Agency, a licensed Texas agency, or visit gironagency.com.
Willacy County, TX has 3,747 Medicare beneficiaries per CMS Q1 2024 data, with about 79% enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The top medicare advantage carriers are Cigna / HealthSpring - dominant MA carrier in the county; 417 reflects Cigna's combined HMO enrollment, UnitedHealthcare / AARP Medicare Advantage, Humana - confirmed active in Willacy County; listed enrollment is approximate and not independently confirmed at the county level. We compare these plans for free and never charge a fee.
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The Willacy County medicare advantage market
Willacy County posts one of the highest Medicare Advantage adoption rates in Texas — roughly 79% of its 3,747 beneficiaries chose an MA plan over Original Medicare. That level of uptake usually means carriers compete hard locally, so the extra benefits (dental, OTC allowance, transportation, gym) tend to be richer than the Texas average. Cigna / HealthSpring - dominant MA carrier in the county; 417 reflects Cigna's combined HMO enrollment 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 18 Medicare Advantage plans are available in Willacy County, so a side-by-side comparison genuinely matters. Medicare Advantage enrollment figures reflect the latest CMS data (May 2026).
Willacy County at a glance
Population (2024 ACS)
20,139
Medicare beneficiaries
3,747
MA penetration
79%
Age 65 or older
15%
What makes Willacy County different: Willacy County has no operating acute-care hospital of its own - the Willacy County Hospital District in Raymondville stopped running a hospital in October 1986 and now only administers an indigent health-care program, so residents drive about 21 miles south to Harlingen (Cameron County) for inpatient care. Despite this, the county posts one of the highest Medicare Advantage penetration rates in Texas at roughly 69%, ranking among the state's top MA-enrollment counties (alongside neighbors like Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron).
Top Medicare Advantage plans in Willacy County
Cigna / HealthSpring (Cigna Preferred Medicare HMO plans, contract H4513) - dominant MA carrier in the county; 417 reflects Cigna's combined HMO enrollment (Cigna Preferred Medicare HMO 294 + Cigna Preferred Full Savings HMO 123)
Humana (Gold Plus HMO, contract H0028) - confirmed active in Willacy County (e.g. H0028-046); listed enrollment is approximate and not independently confirmed at the county level
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 Willacy 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. Willacy County has 2
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
▸Valley Baptist Medical Center - Harlingen (Cameron County, ~21 miles south; 600+ beds; primary acute-care hospital for Willacy County residents)
▸Harlingen Medical Center (Harlingen, Cameron County; general acute-care hospital)
Call each hospital's billing office directly — or use the carrier's
network tool on the right to search by hospital name.
Top Willacy carriers — network lookup
Cigna / HealthSpring - dominant MA carrier in the county; 417 reflects Cigna's combined HMO enrollment 4★ Cigna provider directory ↗
Humana - confirmed active in Willacy County; listed enrollment is approximate and not independently confirmed at the county level 3.5★ Humana provider finder ↗
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: Valley Baptist Medical Center - Harlingen (Cameron County, ~21 miles south; 600+ beds; primary acute-care hospital for Willacy County residents), Harlingen Medical Center (Harlingen, Cameron County; general acute-care hospital)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medicare beneficiaries live in Willacy County?▾
About 3,747 Texans in Willacy County are enrolled in Medicare as of May 2026 CMS data. About 79% are in Medicare Advantage plans; the rest are in Original Medicare (with or without Medigap).
Who are the top Medicare carriers in Willacy County?▾
The largest carriers in Willacy County are Cigna / HealthSpring (Cigna Preferred Medicare HMO plans, contract H4513) - dominant MA carrier in the county; 417 reflects Cigna's combined HMO enrollment (Cigna Preferred Medicare HMO 294 + Cigna Preferred Full Savings HMO 123), UnitedHealthcare / AARP Medicare Advantage (TX-0014 HMO-POS, contract H4527), Humana (Gold Plus HMO, contract H0028) - confirmed active in Willacy County (e.g. H0028-046); listed enrollment is approximate and not independently confirmed at the county level. 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 Willacy County?▾
Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) (1-800-252-9240) provides free unbiased Medicare counseling. Major hospitals in the county include Valley Baptist Medical Center - Harlingen (Cameron County, ~21 miles south; 600+ beds; primary acute-care hospital for Willacy County residents), Harlingen Medical Center (Harlingen, Cameron County; general acute-care hospital).
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Willacy County?▾
As of May 2026, about 18 Medicare Advantage plans are available to Willacy County residents, led by UnitedHealth Group, Inc., Health Care Service Corporation, Universal Health Services, Inc., Humana Inc.. We compare all of them side by side at no cost.
Why do most people in Willacy County choose Medicare Advantage?▾
In Willacy County, over 3,400 beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage plans like those offered by Cigna and HealthSpring. This high enrollment rate reflects the county's unique situation where residents must travel about 21 miles south to Harlingen for inpatient care due to the lack of a local acute-care hospital.
When can I enroll in Medicare Advantage plans?▾
You can enroll during Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) from October 15th to December 7th, or during Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) if you have a qualifying life event. Part C plans are designed for those who want bundled hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage.
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