Medicare Life Simulator: Plan Joe’s Retirement
Every choice opens — or closes — a door. Can you get Joe through retirement without a penalty?
Medicare Life Simulator is a free decision game. You guide Joe, a fictional 67-year-old, through 30 months of his life as he retires. Each month you choose what to do — sign up for Part B, accept COBRA, join a drug plan, buy Medigap, or pick Medicare Advantage — but only when a real enrollment window is open. Then you see the consequences: late penalties, coverage gaps, and bills. It teaches general Medicare rules — it is not advice about your own coverage.
- 30months to manage
- 7kinds of decisions
- 5enrollment windows
- ∞ways to replay
How to play
Read the month. Each turn is one month of Joe’s life. Life events, letters, and bills arrive.
Choose — if you can. Actions are only open in the enrollment windows Medicare allows. “Why can’t Joe do something else?” explains every closed door.
End the month. See what Joe paid. Penalty and coverage-gap meters update — some consequences arrive months later.
Read the report card. After 30 months, review penalties, gaps, and every decision.
Play again. Try a different strategy and compare it with your last run.
What you’ll learn
- The 8-month Special Enrollment Period
Learn why working past 65 lets you delay Part B — and when that window closes. Read more: Working past 65.
- The COBRA trap
Learn why COBRA doesn’t count as coverage from current work, and what that means for Part B. Read more: COBRA and Medicare.
- Late penalties
Learn how the Part B (10% per full year) and Part D (1% per month) penalties build. Read more: Penalty calculator.
- Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage
Learn the Medigap Open Enrollment window, and why Original Medicare has no yearly cap. Read more: Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage.
- Enrollment windows
Learn General Enrollment, Open Enrollment, and the 2-month window after losing employer coverage. Read more: Enrollment periods.
- Drug coverage
Learn the 63-day rule and creditable coverage. Read more: Creditable coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Medicare Life Simulator work?
Is there one right answer?
Are the dollar amounts real?
Will this tell me what to do about my own Medicare?
Sources
- When does Medicare coverage start? — Medicare.gov
- Special Enrollment Periods — Medicare.gov
- Joining a health or drug plan — Medicare.gov
- Avoid late enrollment penalties — Medicare.gov
- Medicare costs — Medicare.gov
- Part D costs — Medicare.gov
- Medigap basics — Medicare.gov
- Your health plan options — Medicare.gov
Talk to a local, licensed agent
Rocco DeLuca can walk you through your options — free, no pressure.