Independent Medicare help · Albuquerque, NM
Medicare, made simple — right here in New Mexico.
Straight answers on Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D from an independent, licensed New Mexico advisor. No pressure, and no cost to you — insurance companies pay our fee.
What's your ZIP code?
We start local — plan availability is set by your county.
How old are you?
This tells us which coverage window you're in.
Which best describes you?
Pick one — you can change this anytime.
How often do you see doctors?
Helps us weigh networks vs. freedom.
Do you take prescriptions?
We match your drugs to the lowest-cost plan.
No cost, no pressure. We do not offer every plan available in your area — for all options visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
How we help
Everything you need, handled with care
Navigate Medicare “red tape”
Parts A, B, C and D, deadlines and paperwork — we translate it all into plain English and handle the legwork.
Understand all your options
Advantage, Supplement (Medigap) and Part D, compared side by side so you can choose with confidence.
Avoid lifetime “gotcha” penalties
Miss a window and you can pay more for the rest of your life. We make sure you enroll on time, every time.
A custom plan for lifetime care
We match coverage to your doctors, prescriptions and budget — and review it every year as your needs change.
All at no cost to you.
How it works
Get the right Medicare plan in 3 steps
Schedule a free conversation
Tell us your doctors, prescriptions and budget. No cost, no pressure — ever.
Get a personal plan comparison
We compare the Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D plans we offer against your needs.
Enroll & get ongoing support
We handle enrollment and stay your local advisor for claims, appeals and annual reviews.
Our services
Explore services, plans & options
Medicare Enrollment Assistance
Turning 65 or new to Medicare — we guide every step of your Initial Enrollment.
Plan Comparison
Advantage vs. Supplement vs. Part D, compared for your exact situation.
Annual Coverage Review
Plans change yearly. We check yours every fall so you never overpay.
Claims Support & Appeals
A real, local advocate for when something goes wrong.
Keep Your Doctor
We help confirm your providers and prescriptions are covered before you switch.
Drug Cost Review
Make sure your prescriptions are covered at the lowest cost we can find for you.
Coverage
Medicare products we offer
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Part D Prescription Drug Plans
Dental, Vision & Hearing
Hospital Indemnity
Life & Final Expense
Meet your advisor
A real New Mexico advisor — not a 1-800 call center.
When you call, you reach Brian Penner — an independent, licensed Medicare advisor who takes the time to make sure you understand every option before you decide. Same person every year at renewal, with your best interest first.
Local data · every New Mexico county
Your county’s health picture
The right Medicare plan depends on what’s common where you live — drug formularies, specialist networks and extra benefits all matter more when a condition is widespread in your county. Enter your ZIP or pick your county to see the local numbers.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Source: CDC PLACES county estimates, 2023 data year — crude prevalence among adults 18+. Full dataset for all 33 counties: county-health.json.
Resources
Latest Medicare guidance
Can I Switch Medigap Plans When My Premium Goes Up? New Mexico 2027
Yes, but until now most New Mexicans had to pass health questions to do it: under federal law a Medigap company only has to accept you in your one-time six-month open enrollment or a guaranteed-issue situation. From January 1, 2027, Senate Bill 21 gives every Medigap policyholder 65 and older a 60-day window starting the first day of their birthday month to move to an equal-or-lesser plan at any company with no underwriting, and insurers must send notice 30 to 60 days ahead. Why premiums rise (attained-age vs. issue-age vs. community pricing, with CMS's examples), the three ways to switch without health questions, the 2027 window dates by birthday month, which plan moves qualify, CMS's shopping questions, the regulator's rate study, and how a Medigap policy fits the annual review.
Read →
Is CHRISTUS Health Plan Medicare Advantage Ending in New Mexico for 2027?
Yes. CHRISTUS Health Plan says its Medicare Advantage coverage ends December 31, 2026, and the CMS 2027 landscape file has no CHRISTUS plan in New Mexico. The two plans affected (Plus, with drug coverage, and Guardian, medical only) were sold in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Sandoval, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Taos and Otero counties; nearly 9,000 members across Texas and New Mexico need 2027 coverage. CHRISTUS St. Vincent is not closing. What is left in each county for 2027 (Santa Fe keeps 18 general plans, Taos 5, Otero 2), the three doors, the Medigap window from November 1 to March 4, 2027, and the Rewards dollars deadline.
Read →
Should I Switch My Medicare Part D Plan for 2027?
Only if the comparison says so — but run it. New Mexico has 10 stand-alone drug plans for 2027 (11 in 2026) and none has a $0 premium after five did in 2026; premiums run $5.30 to $151.10, deductibles $300 to $700, and by our count of CMS's landscape file only one plan sits at or below the Extra Help benchmark, down from four. CMS says 67.69% of New Mexicans in a stand-alone plan can find a lower premium than they paid in 2026. Why premiums rose (the stabilization demonstration ended; base premium $41.33), the seven signs a plan no longer fits, the drugs-pharmacy-total-cost comparison, what Extra Help members pay on each plan, why the January window does not apply to drug plans, and how we review a drug plan every autumn.
Read →Got questions?
We have lots of great answers
What if I’m already on Medicare?
We can still help — at no cost. We’ll review your current coverage, check that your doctors and prescriptions are covered, and compare it against the plans we offer to see if you could be paying less or getting more.
Do you charge for your time?
No. Insurance companies pay our fee, so you don’t pay a thing for our services. You get unbiased, local guidance at no cost to you.
What are “lifetime penalties”?
If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B or Part D when you’re first eligible (and don’t have other qualifying coverage), you can owe a permanent late-enrollment penalty added to your premium for as long as you have Medicare. We make sure you enroll in the right window so you avoid them.
Is it true I could lose my doctor?
Some Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks, so the wrong plan could mean your doctor is out of network. Before you enroll, we confirm your physicians and prescriptions are covered by the plan you choose.
What about additional coverages?
Beyond core Medicare, we can help with dental, vision and hearing, hospital indemnity, and life or final-expense coverage — so the gaps Medicare leaves are covered too.
Let’s connect
Get your free, personalized Medicare roadmap from a local advisor who has your back.
Content reviewed by Brian Penner, Independent Medicare advisor — no pressure.