What you'll learn
- Galveston County residents can choose from 33 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, offered by 6 insurance companies.
- 27 of those plans have a $0 monthly premium. You still pay your Part B premium.
- During a declared disaster, Medicare Advantage plans must let you get care at Medicare-certified facilities outside the network, at in-network cost sharing.
- Free counseling is available from HICAP at 1-800-252-9240 and the Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging at 713-627-3200.
Galveston County, 2027 at a glance
Source: CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files. Counts include plans open to general enrollment; availability can vary by ZIP code. Compare all plans at Medicare.gov.
Galveston County takes in the island city of Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula, plus mainland communities like League City, Texas City, Dickinson, La Marque, Santa Fe, and Kemah. Many residents get some care close to home and some in Harris County. And everyone here plans around hurricane season. Both facts belong in your Medicare decision.
What the 2027 numbers show
According to CMS's 2027 plan data, Galveston County residents can choose from 33 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 6 insurance companies. 27 include Part D drug coverage, and 27 have no monthly plan premium.
In-network out-of-pocket maximums range from $3,600 to $9,850. That yearly cap is what limits your costs if you have a hospital stay or surgery, so weigh it alongside the premium.
19 plans carry an overall CMS quality rating of 4 stars or higher for 2027. If you keep Original Medicare, there are 10 stand-alone Part D drug plans available, starting at $5.30 a month.
Island, mainland, and Houston networks
Medicare explains that with an HMO you generally must use doctors and hospitals in the plan's network, except in emergencies, and many HMOs require a referral to see a specialist. In Galveston County, that means checking more than one place:
- Your doctors close to home, on the island or the mainland.
- Specialists you see in Houston or Clear Lake. Confirm each by name in the plan's 2027 directory.
- The hospital you'd use for surgery or a planned stay, plus where you'd go if you evacuated inland.
If you value seeing any provider that takes Medicare anywhere in the country, compare that with Original Medicare. Our guide to Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare in Texas lays out the trade-offs.
Make Medicare part of your hurricane plan
You can't control the storm, but you can make it easier to get care afterward.
- Pack your cards. Keep your Medicare card, any plan card, and an up-to-date medication list in your go-kit.
- Know the disaster rule. When a disaster or emergency is declared and care is disrupted, Medicare says Medicare Advantage plans must let you get care at out-of-network, Medicare-certified facilities, without a referral, at in-network rates. Save receipts if you're charged more.
- Ask about prescriptions. If you evacuate, call your drug plan about refills and longer supplies.
- Lost equipment. If Medicare-paid equipment like a wheelchair or oxygen equipment is lost or damaged in a disaster, Medicare usually covers repair or replacement. See Part B and medical equipment.
If you have Medicare and Medicaid
Galveston County has 19 Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people with both Medicare and Texas Medicaid, 6 chronic condition plans, and 6 institutional plans for people who live in a nursing home or similar facility. Read Medicare and Medicaid in Texas to see how the two programs fit together, and Part B premium help in Texas for programs that may help with costs.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026 | Open Enrollment: change plans for 2027 |
| Jan. 1, 2027 | New plan coverage starts |
| Jan. 1 – Mar. 31, 2027 | One plan change if you're already in Medicare Advantage |
For neighboring areas, see Houston and Harris County or browse Medicare by county.
Free local help
The Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling at 1-800-252-9240. Galveston County is served by the Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging at 713-627-3200.
You can compare every plan for your ZIP code on the Medicare.gov Plan Finder, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Common questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are in Galveston County for 2027?
CMS data shows 33 Medicare Advantage plans open to general enrollment in Galveston County for 2027, from 6 insurance companies. Special needs plans are also available for people with Medicaid, certain chronic conditions, or who live in a nursing home.
What happens to my Medicare plan if a hurricane forces me to evacuate?
When a disaster or emergency is declared, Medicare says Medicare Advantage plans must let you get care from providers at Medicare-certified facilities even if they're out of network, without a referral, and at the in-network rate. Call your plan to learn about any temporary changes.
Where can I get free Medicare help in Galveston County?
Call the Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 1-800-252-9240. The Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging, which serves Galveston County, is at 713-627-3200.
Sources
- CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D state-by-state fact sheets
- Medicare.gov: Plan Finder
- Medicare.gov: Getting care and drugs in a disaster or emergency
- Medicare.gov: Replacing equipment lost in a disaster or emergency
- Medicare.gov: Special Needs Plans (SNP)
- Medicare.gov: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
- Texas HHS: Medicare counseling (HICAP)
- Texas HHS: Area Agencies on Aging directory
