Medicare Advantage in Zapata County, Texas. About 2,177 Medicare beneficiaries live here, with roughly 75 percent in Medicare Advantage plans. Top carriers include UnitedHealthcare and Humana. For free help comparing plans, call Giron Agency, a licensed Texas agency, or visit gironagency.com.
Zapata County, TX has 2,177 Medicare beneficiaries per CMS Q1 2024 data, with about 75% enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The top medicare advantage carriers are UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Molina Healthcare. We compare these plans for free and never charge a fee.
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The Zapata County medicare advantage market
Zapata County posts one of the highest Medicare Advantage adoption rates in Texas — roughly 75% of its 2,177 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. Only 14% of Zapata residents are 65 or older, so it's a younger county where fewer agents specialize in Medicare locally — exactly the gap a dedicated Texas agent fills. UnitedHealthcare 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 Zapata County, so a side-by-side comparison genuinely matters. Medicare Advantage enrollment figures reflect the latest CMS data (May 2026).
Zapata County at a glance
Population (2024 ACS)
13,841
Medicare beneficiaries
2,177
MA penetration
75%
Age 65 or older
14%
What makes Zapata County different: Zapata County has no hospital within its borders; residents rely on the Gateway Community Health Center clinic in the town of Zapata for primary care and travel to the critical-access Starr County Memorial Hospital in Rio Grande City or to acute-care hospitals in Laredo for inpatient and emergency services. The county skews younger than Texas overall (about 13.7% of residents are 65+), yet sits in a South Texas border region with very high Medicare Advantage uptake: per CMS, roughly 69% of Zapata County's ~2,100 Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage in 2024, and neighboring Starr County reaches 81% MA enrollment, one of only three U.S. counties above 80% (KFF, 2024).
Top Medicare Advantage plans in Zapata County
UnitedHealthcare (AARP)
4.5-star CMS rating
Humana
4.5-star CMS rating
Molina Healthcare
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 Zapata 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. Zapata 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
▸Starr County Memorial Hospital (Rio Grande City - critical access, nearest serving Zapata County)
▸Doctors Hospital of Laredo
▸Laredo Medical Center
Call each hospital's billing office directly — or use the carrier's
network tool on the right to search by hospital name.
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: Starr County Memorial Hospital (Rio Grande City - critical access, nearest serving Zapata County), Doctors Hospital of Laredo, Laredo Medical Center
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medicare beneficiaries live in Zapata County?▾
About 2,177 Texans in Zapata County are enrolled in Medicare as of May 2026 CMS data. About 75% are in Medicare Advantage plans; the rest are in Original Medicare (with or without Medigap).
Who are the top Medicare carriers in Zapata County?▾
The largest carriers in Zapata County are UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Humana, Molina Healthcare. 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 Zapata County?▾
Texas HICAP (Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program) (1-800-252-9240) provides free unbiased Medicare counseling. Major hospitals in the county include Starr County Memorial Hospital (Rio Grande City - critical access, nearest serving Zapata County), Doctors Hospital of Laredo, Laredo Medical Center.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Zapata County?▾
As of May 2026, about 11 Medicare Advantage plans are available to Zapata County residents, led by UnitedHealth Group, Inc., Centene Corporation, Humana Inc., Universal Health Services, Inc.. We compare all of them side by side at no cost.
Why is Medicare Advantage so popular in Zapata County?▾
In Zapata County, nearly 70% of beneficiaries choose Medicare Advantage due to its comprehensive coverage and local carrier options like UnitedHealthcare. This high uptake reflects the unique healthcare needs of residents who rely on nearby hospitals for services.
When can I enroll in a Part C plan?▾
You can enroll during Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15-Dec 7), Open Enrollment Period, or Special Enrollment Periods if you have a qualifying life event. Our local agent can help you compare plans and switch if needed without extra cost.
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