More than 4.2 million people in Texas are signed up for Medicare, making it the third-largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare is the government health care program for people age 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is an all-in-one alternative to Medicare that offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as dental and vision coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they are often cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan, but they offer less flexibility since you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine what plan best suits your needs.
What to know about Medicare in Texas
With nearly 1 in 8 people in Texas being over 65, the state offers a variety of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
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The average monthly premium in 2021 for a Medicare Advantage plan in Texas is $11.42.
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There are 289 Medicare Advantage plans available in Texas in 2021. (This is up from 231 plans in 2020.)
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All Medicare-eligible people in Texas have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage providers in Texas
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Amerigroup.
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Amerigroup Insurance Company.
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Care N’ Care Insurance Company.
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CHRISTUS Health Plan Generations.
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Clover Health.
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Community First Health Plans.
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Devoted Health.
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Imperial Insurance Companies.
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KelseyCare Advantage.
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Lasso Healthcare.
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Memorial Hermann Health Plan.
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Prominence Health Plan.
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Scott and White Health Plan.
Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Texas
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, awards every Medicare Advantage plan a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a top-rated plan. Below are plans that received top marks in Texas for the 2021 plan year. (Check out more information about Medicare star ratings.)
5-star plans
The plans below are rated 5 stars out of 5 by the CMS:
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KelseyCare Advantage: KelseyCare Advantage Essential, KelseyCare Advantage Essential Select, KelseyCare Advantage Essential+Choice, KelseyCare Advantage Rx, KelseyCare Advantage Rx Select, KelseyCare Advantage Rx+Choice.
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UnitedHealthcare: Erickson Advantage Freedom, Erickson Advantage Liberty with Drugs, Erickson Advantage Liberty without Drugs, Erickson Advantage Signature with Drugs.
4.5-star plans
The plans below are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by the CMS:
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Cigna: Cigna Fundamental Medicare, Cigna Preferred Medicare.
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Scott and White Health Plan: BSW SeniorCare Advantage Preferred, BSW SeniorCare Advantage Preferred Rx, BSW SeniorCare Advantage Premium, BSW SeniorCare Advantage Premium Rx, BSW SeniorCare Advantage Select, BSW SeniorCare Advantage Select Rx.
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UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage, AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot, AARP Medicare Advantage SecureHorizons.
How to choose a Medicare Advantage plan
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How much are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
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Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred doctor (or doctors) or hospital, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
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Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
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Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
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Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra perks, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers:
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
This post was originally published on Nerd Wallet
