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Coming up on May 1st and second, please give at donate.npr.org and thank you. We've talked about retirement a few times on 1A and there's a topic that always comes up.

Hi, my name is Joe in Massachusetts, I'm age 64, eligible for Medicare in a year.

Hi, I'm calling about Medicare.

I have questions regarding Medicare.

Hey, this is Peggy in Jordan, Minnesota,

and I have some questions about the Medicare Advantage plan.

Questions about managing health care as a senior flooded our inbox.

And it's no wonder, Medicare is complicated.

Nearly 67 million people use some form of the federal government's health

insurance program it's for those over 65 and younger people with some disabilities

but entangling the multiple parts of Medicare can be a headache and then there's Medicare advantage.

Hi, William Shatner here with an important message about your Medicare benefits.

George Foreman here to fight for you and make sure you're getting a Medicare Advantage plan

with all the benefits available to you. Unlike traditional Medicare

which is provided by the government, Medicare Advantage is a privatized

insurance plan. With the help of some star-steaded commercials, it's become

increasingly popular, but it's also controversial. According to a 2023 study from Brown University School of Public Health,

nearly half of those who signed up for Medicare Advantage left their plans after five years.

So what should you know before enrolling?

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