Turning 65 in Collin County is a milestone that comes with one very important decision: choosing the Medicare coverage that fits your doctors, your budget, and your lifestyle. 

With Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health Resources, Medical City Healthcare, and UT Southwestern all operating in the county, Collin County seniors have access to world-class medical care — but that care is only fully accessible when your coverage is set up correctly. 

This guide walks you through every Medicare option available to Collin County residents in 2026.

What Is Medicare and Who Qualifies?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program available to Americans age 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with qualifying disabilities or end-stage renal disease. 

Enrollment is managed through the Social Security Administration, and most Collin County residents become eligible in the months surrounding their 65th birthday.

Medicare is divided into four main parts — A, B, C, and D — each covering a distinct category of healthcare. Understanding all four before you make any decisions is essential, because choosing the wrong combination can leave you with gaps in coverage or unnecessary monthly costs.

Part A: Hospital Insurance

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying hospital admission, hospice care, and some home health services. 

Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A as long as they — or their spouse — paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years) during their working lives.

For 2026, the Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,676 per benefit period. If you are admitted more than once in a year and each admission is separated by fewer than 60 days, you may be responsible for that deductible multiple times. 

Understanding this structure is one of the key reasons Collin County residents often pair Part A with a Medigap supplement policy.

Part B: Medical Insurance

Medicare Part B covers outpatient care including doctor visits, preventive screenings, lab work, durable medical equipment, and outpatient procedures. 

Unlike Part A, Part B requires a monthly premium. The standard 2026 Part B premium is $185.00 per month, though higher-income enrollees pay more through Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA).

Part B covers 80 percent of approved outpatient costs after the annual deductible ($257 in 2026). The remaining 20 percent is your responsibility without a supplement. 

On a significant medical expense, that 20 percent can become substantial — which is why most Collin County seniors choose either a Medigap plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that limits out-of-pocket exposure.

Part C: Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is the alternative to Original Medicare. Instead of receiving your Medicare benefits directly from the federal government, you receive them through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. 

Part C plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and most include additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare — such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness memberships.

Collin County has an exceptionally competitive Medicare Advantage marketplace. Major insurers offering plans in the area include UnitedHealthcare (AARP MedicareComplete), Humana, Aetna, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, and WellCare. 

Many plans are available with $0 monthly premiums, though copays and network restrictions apply.

The critical step before selecting any Medicare Advantage plan is verifying that your preferred physicians and hospitals are in-network. Baylor Scott & White's network, Texas Health Resources facilities, and Medical City campuses in Plano and Frisco are included in many — but not all — local plans. 

Call your doctor's office directly to confirm in-network status before enrolling.

Medicare Advantage plans use network structures (HMO or PPO) that may require referrals to see specialists. If you have established relationships with multiple specialists in Collin County, a PPO-style Advantage plan may give you more flexibility than an HMO.

Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs. You can add a standalone Part D plan to Original Medicare, or Part D coverage may be bundled into a Medicare Advantage plan. 

Either way, if you have prescription drug needs, you should have Part D coverage — failing to enroll when first eligible results in a permanent late enrollment penalty added to your monthly premium.

Part D plans in Collin County vary significantly in their formularies (which drugs are covered), tier structures, and pharmacy networks. CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Tom Thumb pharmacies are widely included across most local plans. 

Use the Medicare Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare 2026 Part D plans based on your specific medications and preferred pharmacy.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans

If you choose Original Medicare (Parts A and B) rather than Medicare Advantage, you will likely want to add a Medigap policy to cover the gaps — copays, coinsurance, and deductibles that Original Medicare leaves as your responsibility. 

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers but are standardized by the federal government, meaning Plan G from one insurer covers exactly the same services as Plan G from another.

For new Medicare enrollees in 2026, Medigap Plan G is one of the most comprehensive options available. It covers the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and foreign travel emergency care. 

The only major out-of-pocket cost under Plan G is the Part B annual deductible ($257 in 2026).

Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period — the six months beginning when you are both age 65 and enrolled in Part B — is the most important window for purchasing a supplement plan. 

During this period, insurers in Texas cannot deny you coverage or charge higher premiums based on your health history. 

Missing this window means insurers can underwrite you and may charge more or decline to cover you if you have preexisting conditions.

Medigap premiums in Collin County vary by insurer, your age at enrollment, and whether the plan uses community rating or attained-age rating. 

Shopping multiple carriers during your open enrollment period is strongly recommended. Insurers offering Medigap plans in Texas include AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Mutual of Omaha, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, among others.

When to Enroll — Critical Timing

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month window: three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month itself, and three months after. Enrolling during the first three months of your IEP ensures your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.

If you are still working at 65 and covered by a qualifying employer health plan — your own or a spouse's — you may be able to delay Medicare enrollment without penalty under a Special Enrollment Period. However, the rules around this are nuanced. 

COBRA coverage, retiree health coverage, and marketplace ACA plans do NOT qualify as creditable coverage for Medicare delay purposes. If you are unsure whether your current coverage qualifies, speak with a licensed Medicare counselor before your birthday.

Late enrollment penalties are permanent. The Part B late penalty adds 10 percent to your monthly premium for each 12-month period you went without coverage. The Part D late penalty adds approximately 1 percent per month. 

These penalties last for the lifetime of your Medicare enrollment — making the right timing decision one of the most financially significant choices you will make at 65.

Free Medicare Counseling in Collin County

The Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling to Texas residents through trained certified counselors. 

Counselors are not affiliated with any insurance company and do not sell plans — they simply help you understand your options and make the decision that is right for your situation.

To reach a HICAP counselor, call 1-800-252-9240 or visit hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/your-rights/long-term-care-consumer-rights/hicap-health-information-counseling-advocacy.

The Social Security Administration manages Medicare enrollment. You can enroll online at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. 

The Plano SSA field office is located at 1205 E. 15th St., Plano, TX 75074.

Medicare Resources for Collin County Residents

• Medicare Plan Finder (compare all plans by zip code): medicare.gov/plan-compare

• Texas HICAP free counseling: hhs.texas.gov

• Social Security Administration (enrollment): ssa.gov

• Official Medicare website: medicare.gov

• Collin County Area Agency on Aging (benefits counseling): (972) 548-4938

• Plano Social Security Office: 1205 E. 15th St., Plano, TX 75074 | (800) 772-1213