What if the Medicare plan that worked for you this year is quietly setting you up to overpay next year? Most people treat Medicare as a one-time decision. David Bezar sits down with Dawn Myers, a Medicare specialist Thrive works with, who has spent nearly 26 years helping people make sense of it. Her message is simple: Medicare is not set-and-forget. They get into what’s changing for 2026, the end of the donut hole and the new $700 drug deductible, why drug formularies are shrinking, and how to read the Annual Notice of Change letter. Dawn also breaks down Medicare Advantage versus Medigap, and why the cheapest plan today can become unaffordable at 85. Open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, and one wrong move can follow you for years. Listen now. Timestamped Highlights[00:01:18] Why Medicare is never a one-time decision[00:03:26] From ACA crusader to kitchen-table advisor: Dawn's 26 years in Medicare[00:06:13] The turning-65 myth that trips up people who are still working[00:09:44] The biggest Medicare change happening right now[00:10:14] The donut hole is gone, and the $700 drug deductible replacing it[00:11:46] Why shrinking formularies could drop your prescription[00:12:24] The September letter that tells you if your coverage changed[00:14:41] Medicare Advantage or Medigap: the question to ask first[00:16:05] The 55,000 Philadelphia retirees who lost their PPO[00:17:52] Why the "best" G plan may not be the smartest one[00:19:35] The N plan quote that came in at $114 a month[00:26:22] The Part D subsidy expiring, and the price jump it could trigger[00:28:24] Why you should never call the Medicare ads on TV Mentioned ResourcesMedicare.gov to re-run and compare your Part D drug plan during open enrollment. Dawn’s step-by-step drug-shopping guide, available by contacting Dawn https://ritterim.com/meet-dawn-myers/ Thrive Financial Services, complimentary retirement planning that works alongside your Medicare coverage. About the GuestDawn Myers is a Medicare and health insurance specialist with nearly 26 years in the industry, working across individual medical, ACA, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D drug coverage. An early advocate for ending medical underwriting, she is known for a kitchen-table approach: sitting down with clients and their adult children to make sure they understand their options and choose coverage that stays affordable for the long haul. Thrive works with Dawn and endorses her for Medicare guidance. 🔗 LinkedIn Important LinksConnect with David: Website | LinkedIn How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning Check out our Client Success Stories Disclosure: Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name. This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Thrive Capital Management, LLC is an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate that the adviser or investment adviser representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability. The oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an adviser. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name. This has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Thrive is not affiliated with any government agency. For additional details about Medicare, visit the government’s Medicare website: www.Medicare.gov. You can sign up for Medicare in person at your Social Security office, by telephone at 1.800.772.1213 or online at https://www.medicare.gov/. Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
