Medicare Plans in Brownsville and Cameron County for 2027

Cameron County stretches from Brownsville and the river up through Harlingen and San Benito to Port Isabel and South Padre Island. Families here often manage Medicare, Texas Medicaid, and caregiving all at once, many people would rather talk it through in Spanish, and hurricane season is part of life. This guide is built around those needs.

Cameron County's 2027 numbers

According to CMS's 2027 data, Cameron County residents can choose from 34 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 5 insurance companies. 26 include drug coverage, and 25 charge no monthly plan premium.

In-network out-of-pocket maximums range from $3,000 to $9,850, and 19 plans have an overall CMS rating of 4 stars or higher. For people on Original Medicare, there are 10 stand-alone Part D plans, starting at $5.30 a month.

If you have Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare calls people with both Medicare and full Medicaid "dually eligible." For them:

• Medicare pays first for Medicare-covered services, and Medicaid pays last.
• Texas pays your Part B premium if you have full Medicaid, and may help with other Medicare costs depending on your eligibility.
• D-SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans built for people with both programs. Medicare says they can help coordinate your benefits. Some plans include extras like dental or vision, but benefits vary by plan.
• More chances to switch. Medicare says people with Medicaid or Extra Help can make coverage changes once a calendar month, with some exceptions.

For more, see our guide to Medicare and Medicaid in Texas.

Cameron County also has 9 chronic condition plans and 4 plans for people who live in a nursing home or similar facility.

Don't have Medicaid but struggling with costs? Texas Medicare Savings Programs may help with premiums. Limits change every year, so ask HICAP. Our guide to Part B premium help in Texas explains the basics.

Care across the border

Some Cameron County residents cross into Mexico for dental work, prescriptions, or to visit family. Keep in mind that Medicare says it usually doesn't cover health care outside the U.S., with only limited exceptions. Some Medigap policies may cover emergency care when you travel outside the U.S. If you cross the border often, factor that into your choice between Original Medicare with Medigap and a Medicare Advantage plan, and check your coverage before you get care abroad.

Ayuda en español

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask for an interpreter. You can also ask Medicare to send you printed materials in Spanish. When you talk with HICAP, the area agency on aging, or a licensed agent, ask for a Spanish-speaking counselor if you prefer. Never sign up for a plan you don't fully understand.

Hurricane season on the coast

From Port Isabel to Brownsville, Gulf storms can mean evacuations and power outages. Medicare says that when a disaster or emergency is declared, Medicare Advantage plans must let you get care at Medicare-certified facilities out of network, without a referral, at the in-network rate.

• Keep your Medicare card, plan card, and medication list in your go-bag.
• If you evacuate for a while, Medicare says you can ask your drug plan about a 60- or 90-day supply.
• Confirm your nearest in-network hospital and urgent care before storm season.

Key dates

Date	What happens
Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026	Annual Enrollment Period: 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

Neighbors up the Valley can read our McAllen and Hidalgo County guide. For the bigger picture, see Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare in Texas.

Free local help

The Texas Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling at 1-800-252-9240. Locally, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Area Agency on Aging serves Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties at 956-682-3481, ext. 412.

Compare every plan for your ZIP code on the Medicare.gov Plan Finder, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Farther up the coast? See our Corpus Christi and Nueces County guide.