New to Medicare? You're not alone.
I'm Erick Vallarino, an insurance agent serving all of Texas. I live and work here in the Valley. Turning 65 comes with a lot of mail and a few deadlines. I'll walk you through it in plain words, in English or Spanish, and my help costs you nothing.
Four things to know.
In plain words. If one of these sounds like you, call me before you decide anything.
Your 7-month window
Example: a birthday in April
- January
- February
- March
- Birthday monthApril
- May
- June
- July
With a birthday in April, your window is January 1 to July 31.
- Your window to sign up is usually 7 months: the 3 months before your birthday month, that month, and the 3 months after. If your birthday is on the 1st of the month, it all moves one month earlier.
- Not getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits yet? You usually have to sign up yourself, through Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board if you worked for a railroad), and I'll walk you through it.
- Still working, with insurance from your job or your spouse's? You may be able to wait. Let's check before you decide anything.
- Miss your window without coverage from a current job, and Part B can cost you more for as long as you have it. A 15‑minute call with me can help you avoid that.
Turning 65, in order
- Find your 7-month window. It usually starts 3 months before your birthday month and ends 3 months after. If your birthday is on the 1st of the month, it all moves one month earlier.
- Sign up for Part A and Part B. If you already get Social Security, it usually happens on its own, and your card comes in the mail. Still working, with health coverage from your job or your spouse’s? Ask me first. You may be able to wait on Part B.
- List your doctors and medicines. Then you can check which plans work with your doctors and cover your medicines.
- Compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement. Most Advantage plans include drug coverage. With a Supplement, you add a separate drug plan, unless you have other drug coverage as good as Medicare’s.
- Choose and enroll before your window ends. Sign up early in your window, and your coverage can start the month you turn 65.
I’ll walk you through each step.
Two ways to get your Medicare.
Once you have Part A and Part B, you pick one of these two ways to get your coverage. Either way, you generally keep paying your Part B premium, unless Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program pays it for you. Neither one is right for everybody, so we start with your doctors and your medicines.
Medicare Advantage
One plan from a private company, approved by Medicare. You still get everything Parts A and B cover. Most plans include drug coverage and extras like some dental, vision and hearing care, and each plan has a yearly limit on what you pay for covered Medicare services. A plan can't turn you down because of your health. Most plans have a network, you may pay copays or a share of the cost when you get care, and some plans have a monthly premium, so I check your doctors and costs first. Plans with these benefits are offered in the Valley by companies I'm contracted with: Aetna Medicare, HealthSpring, Humana, Prominence Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare.
How Medicare Advantage works →Original Medicare with a Supplement
You keep Original Medicare and can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare. You can add a Medicare Supplement, for a monthly premium, to help pay your share of the bills, and a separate drug plan for your medicines. For 6 months, starting when you have Part B and are 65 or older, a company can't turn you down or charge you more because of health problems. This window comes only once.
How a supplement works →Here's how it goes.
We talk for 15 minutes
You tell me about your situation: your birthday, your work, and the insurance you have now. That's usually enough to know where you stand.
We sit down together
At your kitchen table or at an office near you. Bring your cards and your list of medicines. We go through it all, with no rush.
I help you sign up, and I stay
After you sign up, I'm still your agent, all year. Bills, doctors, letters, questions. You call me, not a 1-800 number.
Short answers.
Don't see yours? Call or text me. No question is too small.
Do I have to pay you?
No. My help costs you nothing. The plan pays me, not you.
Can we do this in Spanish?
Sí. In Spanish or English, whichever you prefer. Lea esta página en español.
Can my son or daughter be there?
Of course. Bring anyone you want at the table. I'll explain everything to all of you, in plain words.
Turning 65 soon? Let's talk for 15 minutes.
Call or text me, even if your birthday is still months away. We'll look at your dates together, so nothing sneaks up on you. For Medicare Advantage, I'm contracted with Aetna Medicare, HealthSpring, Humana, Prominence Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare.