Kim was turning 65 in a few months and was dreading it. "How can I be so old!" she cried. Her husband Doug passed the mark a few years ago... he was 68. Doug had stayed on his employer's plan to keep medical coverage for Kim since she had no health coverage at her part-time job at the local school.
One night while they were having dinner, Kim brought up the topic of Medicare wondering out loud if they should check to see if the coverage was better than Doug's employer plan. "I don't know, honey; we have pretty good coverage even though it's expensive," Doug replied. "Well, there's a free Medicare workshop at our library, and I think I will go. If nothing else, I'll get some information for later," Kim announced. "Sweetie, those things are just a come-on, and they'll just try to sell you something," Doug cautioned. "No, this one said no sales pitches, just Medicare facts. So, I'm going," Kim replied.
"WE ARE GONNA SAVE SO MUCH MONEY!!!"
When Doug arrived home, he forgot that Kim had gone to the workshop that afternoon, and he was immediately hit with a big hug as he walked in the door from work. "WE ARE GONNA SAVE SO MUCH MONEY!!! " Kim said excitedly with a gleam in her eye. Doug looked confused. "Sit down and let me review the high points about what I learned," she insisted.
"While our plan through your employer has good coverage, we may be missing opportunities for savings we should review by going to Medicare." She started. "I learned about the different plans available, some with no premium or copays, and how to compare our employer group plan to Medicare. So many plan choices are available in our area that it makes sense to harvest their expertise to simplify this. There is no charge to meet with them. So, I've scheduled a meeting to compare our current plan to Medicare. They call this the Stay or Go Analysis™. Their Certified Medicare Planners® can also compare all of the Medicare plans available to us. So, we can match what meets our particular needs. When we decide to go to Medicare, they can assist us every step of the way. They make everything about Medicare 123Easy!"
If you're over 65 and still on an employer plan, schedule a meeting for your Stay or Go Analysis™. Get all the facts to make a wise decision.
By American Retirement Advisors
American Retirement Advisors helps retirees and pre-retirees navigate Medicare, estate planning, and retirement income — so you can enjoy the retirement you've earned.
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Easy Eddie's Take
Kim's excitement makes perfect sense. Most people are surprised when they learn this, but Medicare can often cost significantly less than COBRA or employer group plans while providing equal or better coverage. Here's the good news: you're not stuck with your first choice. During Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7 each year), you can switch between Original Medicare with a Medigap policy or Medicare Advantage plans to find what works best for your situation.
A lot of people ask me, "Can I really get Medicare coverage with no monthly premium?" The answer is yes. Many Medicare Advantage plans in Arizona have $0 monthly premiums, though you'll still pay the standard Medicare Part B premium (which is $185 per month in 2026 for most people). The key is comparing all your options: Original Medicare plus Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and your current employer coverage side by side.
That Stay or Go Analysis™ Kim mentioned is exactly the right approach. Once you see the numbers compared directly, the choice becomes much clearer, and that's what makes planning ahead 123easy.