Medicare 2026

El Paso Medicare confusion? Start with a free SHIP counselor

El Paso, Texas — If you're turning 65 soon, helping a parent sort through mail, or just trying to make sense of Medicare before the December 7 deadline, you don't have to figure it out alone. El Paso has free, unbiased help through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and licensed insurance agents can also walk you through your options at no cost to you.

Knowing the difference between those two sources — and when to use each — can save you hours of frustration and help you avoid a decision you'd regret later.

What SHIP is — and why it's different

SHIP stands for the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. It's a federally funded, state-run service that trains volunteer counselors to answer Medicare questions in plain language. In Texas, the program operates through the Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), often reached through the Area Agency on Aging.

The key thing to understand: SHIP counselors do not sell insurance. They don't earn commissions. They aren't tied to any carrier. Their job is to help you understand your choices, compare plans on Medicare's Plan Finder, review your drug list, check whether you qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, and answer billing or appeal questions.

For El Paso residents, SHIP help is available through the Rio Grande Council of Governments' Area Agency on Aging, which serves El Paso County and the surrounding region.

How to reach a SHIP counselor in El Paso

There are a few easy ways to connect:

• Call the Texas SHIP/HICAP benefits counseling line at 1-800-252-9240.
• Contact the Rio Grande Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging in El Paso to ask about local Medicare counseling appointments.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask to be routed to your local SHIP.
• Visit shiphelp.org to find counselor contact information by ZIP code.

Appointments may be by phone, in person, or virtual, depending on availability. Many counselors will also help you set up a personal medicare.gov account so you can view your own information anytime.

What a licensed agent can do (and can't)

Licensed insurance agents and brokers are the other main source of local Medicare help. A good agent can explain how Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D drug plans work, and help you enroll in a plan that fits your doctors and prescriptions.

Agents are paid commissions by the carriers whose plans they sell. That's not automatically a bad thing — a broker who represents many carriers can compare a wide slate of options with you — but it does mean their perspective is different from a SHIP counselor's. A few tips:

• Ask which carriers the agent is contracted with. If they only represent one or two, you're only seeing part of the picture.
• Under CMS rules, agents must get your permission (a "Scope of Appointment") before discussing Medicare Advantage or Part D plans with you.
• You should never be pressured. If you feel rushed, walk away.
• No agent can promise a specific benefit or savings — your costs depend on your health, drugs, and the plan you choose.

The local picture in El Paso County

Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. El Paso is in El Paso County, where 70 Medicare Advantage plans are offered for 2027 from 12 carriers, according to CMS Medicare Plan Finder data. There are more than 114,000 residents age 65 and older in the county, so demand for clear, local guidance is high.

With that many plan choices, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's exactly the moment a SHIP counselor — or a broker who represents multiple carriers — can help you narrow things down based on your prescriptions, your doctors, and your budget.

What to bring to your appointment

Whether you sit down with a SHIP counselor or a licensed agent, come prepared:

• Your red, white, and blue Medicare card (or your Medicare number).
• A list of your prescriptions, including dosages.
• A list of the doctors and hospitals you want to keep using.
• Any letters from Medicare, Social Security, or a current plan.
• Basic income information if you want to check for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program.

Dates and rules worth knowing for 2027

A few program-level facts, straight from CMS, that apply everywhere — including El Paso:

• The Part D annual out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.
• Fall Open Enrollment: October 15 – December 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.