Guess what I got in the mail today?
My Medicare card, effective 12/01/12! Instead of making me feel old, I feel nothing but grateful. I'll no longer have to pay $640 a month for insurance through BC/BS, I'll be paying $99 a month.
I only hope Medicare will be there for my son and his wife when they reach my age, and for all other Americans, too. We can't let Medicare and Social Security be gutted!
= new reply since forum marked as read
I don't know if it will be half price but it will defiantly be much cheaper and cover your cost for her. 
That's what my husband had to do for me too. That was the only BD I ever looked forward to. That was also the first time I confessed how old I was...and also the last time...he kept forgetting.
A supplemental policy pays what Medicare doesn't pay.....they pay the 20% that Medicare doesn't pay.. Also, you will need a medicare D policy from a private insurer to help pay for your prescriptions. My husband (who has lung cancer - both lungs, a serious heart condition and is in the late stages of emphysema) pays $208/month for the supplemental policy and $94/month is deducted from his monthly SS benefit for Medicare D. You can get cheaper policies (i.e. some Medicare D policies are as little as $30 or so, but you must check what drugs are covered. Medicare D policies vary to which drugs they will pay for, so if you are fairly healthy, you can probably get by with a less expensive Medicare D policy.
Damn, I wanted to get at least something I paid in all these years!
Part B (doctor visits and other outpatient services) during their seven-month initial enrollment period (IEP) around the time they turn 65.
But you can delay enrolling in Part B beyond age 65 without penalty if you have group health insurance from an employer for whom you (or your spouse) are still working. When you retire and this coverage ends, you'll be entitled to an eight-month special enrollment period (SEP) to sign up for Part B without penalty.
This delay is permitted only for people working for companies or organizations that employ 20 or more workers. If you work for a smaller employer, you must enroll in Part A and Part B when you turn 65, and then Medicare pays claims first and your employer plan becomes your secondary insurance.
Medicare has strict enrollment rules that affect people differently according to their circumstances. (See "When Does the Part B Late Penalty Clock Start Ticking?"
If you don't sign up within your initial enrollment period or a special enrollment period (whichever is appropriate to you), your monthly premium will permanently increase 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible but did not enroll."
Good to know I can keep my insurance through work and sign up upon actual retirement without penalty.
and helpful information. Thanks to all for sharing their experiences! 
Maybe we should have our own 65+ forum????
