Medicare help in Brownsville, in English or Spanish.
I'm Erick Vallarino, an insurance agent serving all of Texas. I help people with Medicare all over Brownsville and the rest of Cameron County, at their kitchen table or at my Brownsville office by appointment. When you call, you get me, not a call center. My help costs you nothing.
At your table, or at my office.
I have an office in Brownsville, by appointment only. Call or text first, and we'll pick a time. Most of the time, though, I come to you, whether you live near downtown, off Boca Chica Boulevard or on the north side of town. Bring anyone you want to the table. If your son or daughter lives in San Antonio or Houston, they can listen in by phone or Zoom and ask their own questions.
Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, and Brownsville is the county seat of Cameron County. So I look up the plans I offer for your ZIP code here. Then we go through your doctors and your medicines, one by one, and I check them against each plan. You see what every plan means for you, in plain words. I don't offer every plan. If I can't help with what you need, I'll tell you, and you can always check Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
There's no pressure. Take your time, and the choice is yours. After you choose, I'm still here for a bill that doesn't look right, a letter you're not sure about, or a question in the middle of the year. Think of me as your personal assistant for anything Medicare.
Towns near Brownsville.
I go to these towns too. They're all in Cameron County, and I look up your plans by your ZIP code either way.
- Los Fresnos. About 12 miles north of Brownsville. I'll come to your house, or we can meet at the Brownsville office.
- Port Isabel and Laguna Vista. Out by the bay, on the way to the Island. I make the drive, so you don't have to.
- South Padre Island. Live on the Island all year? I'll come to you. Here only for the winter? Your permanent address decides your plan. Read this first.
- Rancho Viejo and Olmito. Just north of town. Your kitchen table or the Brownsville office, whichever is easier for you.
- Harlingen. My other Cameron County office, also by appointment. Medicare help in Harlingen.
Somewhere else in the Valley? I also have offices in McAllen and Pharr, by appointment. Anywhere else in Texas, we can talk by phone or Zoom. See all the areas I serve.
What people here ask me.
Does my Medicare work in Matamoros?
Brownsville sits right across the river from Matamoros, so it's a natural question. If you cross for a doctor or for medicine, here's what to know. In most cases, Medicare doesn't pay for care you get outside the U.S. Medicare drug plans can't cover medicines you buy outside the U.S. A hospital in Mexico doesn't have to send a claim to Medicare, so you may have to pay the whole bill yourself. A Medicare Advantage plan may cover some care outside the U.S., and some Medicare Supplement policies may help with emergency care outside the U.S. Each one has its own rules and limits. If you cross often, tell me, and we'll look at this before you choose. Read more in my FAQ.
Where do I sign up for Medicare in Brownsville?
If you already get Social Security benefits when you turn 65, Medicare usually starts on its own, and your card comes in the mail. If not, you sign up with Social Security. Online at ssa.gov is the easiest way, and I can sit with you at your table while you do it. If you'd rather go in person, the Social Security office in Brownsville is on Central Boulevard. Make an appointment before you go. You can reach Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
My friend in McAllen has a plan she likes. Can I get it in Brownsville?
It depends. Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county. McAllen is in Hidalgo County and Brownsville is in Cameron County, so a plan offered there may not be offered here. Tell me the plan's name, and I'll look up what's offered for your ZIP code. Then we go over your own doctors and medicines, because a plan that works for your friend may not work for you.
Dates to keep in mind.
- Turning 65. Your first window is 7 months: usually the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. If your birthday is on the 1st, it all moves one month earlier. Turning 65, step by step.
- October 15 to December 7, every year. Open Enrollment. Plans in Cameron County can change every year, so this is when I go over yours with you.
- January 1 to March 31, every year. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another one, or to go back to Original Medicare.
Let's sit down and go over it together.
Call or text me, and we'll set a time in Brownsville, Los Fresnos, Port Isabel or wherever you are. English or Spanish, no rush, and my help costs you nothing.