Medicare Supplement in Howard County, Texas. About 4,062 Medicare beneficiaries live here, with roughly 40 percent in Medicare Advantage plans. Top carriers include Humana and UnitedHealthcare. For free help comparing plans, call Mr. and Mrs. Insurance, a licensed Texas agency, or visit mrandmrsinsurance.com.

Howard County Medicare Supplement Plans

Big Spring-area carriers, real enrollment data, free quotes from a licensed Texas agent.

✓ Free • no obligation • about 90 seconds

M&R

Matt & Robin Giron

Licensed in Texas and Florida

📞 (713) 997-5768

Howard County Medicare Supplement — quick answer

Howard County, TX has 4,062 Medicare beneficiaries per CMS Q1 2024 data, with about 40% enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The top medicare supplement carriers are Humana, UnitedHealthcare, WellCare. We compare these plans for free and never charge a fee.

Prefer to listen?

Free audio version, generated on demand by Azure Speech.

The Howard County medicare supplement market

At roughly 40% MA penetration, most of Howard County's 4,062 Medicare beneficiaries stay on Original Medicare, frequently paired with a Medigap policy. That pattern usually signals retirees here prize provider choice and predictable out-of-pocket costs over the lower premiums of MA. Only 14% of Howard 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. Humana 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.

Howard County at a glance

Population (2024 ACS)
30,440
Medicare beneficiaries
4,062
MA penetration
40%
Age 65 or older
14%

What makes Howard County different: Howard County, with Big Spring as its seat in the Permian Basin, is an oil-and-gas and energy county whose workforce skews younger (about 14% age 65+). Its primary hospital, the 146-bed Scenic Mountain Medical Center, was acquired by Shannon Health and rebranded as Shannon Medical Center Big Spring in a merger finalized April 1, 2026.

Top Medicare Advantage plans in Howard County

  • Humana

    4-star CMS rating

  • UnitedHealthcare

    3.5-star CMS rating

  • WellCare (Centene)

    3.5-star CMS rating

  • Aetna

    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 Howard County

Each Medicare Supplement plan builds its own provider network — a hospital that's in-network on one plan may be out-of-network on another. Howard County has 1 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

  • Scenic Mountain Medical Center (Shannon Medical Center Big Spring)

Call each hospital's billing office directly — or use the carrier's network tool on the right to search by hospital name.

Top Howard carriers — network lookup

Free help in Howard 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 132 days

132 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.

Check SEP eligibility (15-min) →

Want to talk it through?

Pick a time on Matt or Robin's calendar — 15 minutes, no sales pressure, no obligation. We'll walk through the Howard County plans that fit your situation.

Local resources in Howard County

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Medicare beneficiaries live in Howard County?

About 4,062 Texans in Howard County are enrolled in Medicare as of 2024 CMS data. About 40% are in Medicare Advantage plans; the rest are in Original Medicare (with or without Medigap).

Who are the top Medicare carriers in Howard County?

The largest carriers in Howard County are Humana, UnitedHealthcare, WellCare (Centene), Aetna. 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 Howard County?

Texas HICAP (1-800-252-9240) provides free unbiased Medicare counseling. Major hospitals in the county include Scenic Mountain Medical Center (Shannon Medical Center Big Spring).

How does the younger workforce in Howard County affect Medicare Supplement options?

With a younger workforce (about 14% age 65+), more individuals are choosing Medicare Advantage plans. Our local agents can help you understand how this affects your options for Medicare Supplement, ensuring you get coverage that fits your specific needs.

When is the best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) from October 15 to December 7 is when you can review and change your Medicare plans. Our agents are here to help you understand enrollment timing, including Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs), to ensure you get the best coverage for your health needs.

Call Start Español