Medicare FAQs for Houston Seniors

No, it's free. The insurance company pays the agent, and the premium you pay is the same whether you enroll through us or on your own.

Your Initial Enrollment Period runs seven months: three months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and three months after. Sign up in that first window and coverage starts without a gap. Wait too long and you risk a late penalty. See turning 65 in Houston.

With Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy, yes, any provider in Greater Houston who accepts Medicare works. With a Medicare Advantage plan, it depends on the network. Houston has several major hospital systems, including Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, St. Luke's Health and HCA Houston Healthcare, plus large groups like Kelsey-Seybold, and they don't always sit on the same plan contracts. We check your specific doctors against each plan's current directory before you sign anything.

Neither wins for everyone. Medigap runs a higher monthly premium but covers nearly all the gaps, with no network to worry about. Advantage costs less month to month, uses copays and a defined network, and often bundles in dental, vision or a gym membership. Your doctors, your prescriptions and how much monthly premium you want to carry decide which one fits. Compare them on Advantage vs. Medigap.

If you don't have coverage through active employment, Medicare adds 10% of the standard Part B premium for every full 12-month period you delayed, and that surcharge usually lasts as long as you have Part B. Our Part B penalty calculator gives you a quick estimate before you decide.

Almost always, yes. Go 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage once you're eligible, and Medicare adds a late penalty to your Part D premium for as long as you have drug coverage. A basic plan now, even one you barely use, is nearly always cheaper than that penalty down the road. See Part D drug plans.

No, but you should still check. Networks, drug tiers and copays reset every January 1. A short fall review by phone is usually enough to confirm your plan still covers your Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann or Kelsey-Seybold doctors and your medications at the price you expect. See Annual Open Enrollment.

Most Greater Houston care runs through competing systems: Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, St. Luke's Health (including Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center) and HCA Houston Healthcare, with Harris Health running Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals and MD Anderson treating cancer in the Texas Medical Center. Plan choice often comes down to which system or medical group your longtime doctor is contracted with. Contracts shift year to year, so we confirm the current one before you enroll.

Yes. Medigap access for people under 65 depends on state rules and on each insurance company, so options can be narrower than at 65. We'll go through what's actually open to you given your situation, not a generic script. Texas HICAP, Texas's free Medicare counseling program, can also help at 1-800-252-9240.

We work across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria counties, including Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands, Cypress, Spring, Pasadena and Kingwood. If you travel often or spend part of the year out of state, tell us, because that changes which plans make sense. See all service areas.