Reading through this thread, I realize how fortunate I was to retire at 57. At the time I retired, one of my retirement benefits was lifetime, no cost to me, health insurance. When I hit Medicare age, my employer-based health insurance became secondary, picking up almost everything after Medicare. Including prescription copays, I am not usually out of pocket more than $200 - $300 per year. Additionally, every year in July, I get a check from my former employer that reimburses me for the Medicare premiums deducted from my social security over the preceding year.
