Call David (863) 640-3102 Request a review
A review is not enrollment.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 65 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
This page is for City of Lakeland retirees who cover a Medicare-enrolled spouse on the city health plan. It is not a plan recommendation, a premium quote, or advice on the city budget. It is also not about the retiree's own coverage or under-65 dependents; those households can call David or start at Lakeland Medicare help.
What changed for City of Lakeland retirees
The Lakeland City Commission unanimously approved an $872 million FY2027 budget, which took effect Oct. 1 (Lakeland Sun, Sept. 28, 2026). LkldNow reported the vote date as Sept. 24, 2026.
Per the Lakeland Sun, the city's new health plans "eliminate a reduced rate that was previously offered to retirees who cover a spouse on Medicare, resulting in those spouse's premiums more than doubling in some cases."
In an example cited at the hearing by Karen Lucab, speaking for the City of Lakeland Association of Retirees, a spouse's premium would rise from $639 to $1,441 per month under the proposed changes; she said that was a median, not the highest increase (Lakeland Sun).
City officials said the change affects 96 retirees (LkldNow). City staff advised retirees to consider alternatives including private Medicare supplements and Medicare Part D coverage, and City Manager Shawn Sherrouse directed retirees to SHINE (Lakeland Sun).
The city's new budget year began Oct. 1. The city's 2026 Employee Benefit Highlights booklet says the group insurance plan year is January 1 through December 31. Check your city open enrollment materials or call Risk Benefits to confirm the date the new premium applies to you.
Before you drop the city plan: 7 checks
1. Confirm your spouse has Medicare Part A and Part B
Medigap generally requires both Medicare Part A and Part B (Medicare.gov). Check the Medicare card for Part A, Part B, and their start dates. Retiree coverage ending does not create a Part B Special Enrollment Period. Medicare.gov lists "Your COBRA coverage or retiree coverage ends" as a situation that does not qualify. Without Part B, the spouse waits for the General Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31. Coverage then starts the month after sign-up, and a Part B late penalty may apply. See Do I need Part B with employer insurance? and late enrollment penalties. Spouses who delayed Part B while covered on current work insurance can start with working past 65.
What to do: if Part B is missing, stop and call before changing anything.
2. Find out whether your spouse can be approved for a Medicare Supplement
Medigap Open Enrollment is a one-time 6-month window. It starts the first month the person is 65 or older and has Part B. During that window, the insurer cannot use medical underwriting (Medicare.gov, Get ready to buy). After it, insurers in Florida may use medical underwriting and can deny an application or charge more unless a guaranteed issue right applies. Many city spouses have had Part B for years, so assume underwriting may apply. Medigap policies generally start the first of the month after you apply unless you ask for a different effective date (Medicare.gov). If the spouse is still in that window, use the turning 65 checklist. Compare current quotes in What a Medicare Supplement costs in Lakeland.
What to do: apply first, get the approval in writing with a start date, then drop the city plan.
3. Don't assume a guaranteed issue right applies
Federal rules: if you have Original Medicare and an employer group health plan, including retiree coverage, that pays after Medicare and that plan is ending, you can buy certain Medigap plans with no underwriting. Apply no later than 63 days after the latest of the date coverage ends, the date on the notice that coverage is ending, or the date on a claim denial (Medicare.gov, Choosing a Medigap Policy, March 2026). Keep proof of termination. Florida law, s. 627.6741(1)(a)2, F.S., requires Medigap issuers to offer a policy without regard to health status to a Part B enrollee during the 2-month period following termination of coverage under a group health insurance policy. Neither source squarely addresses a retiree choosing to remove a spouse from a self-insured city plan because the price went up. KFF notes the federal right generally does not apply when someone voluntarily drops retiree coverage.
What to do: ask the Medigap insurer, in writing, whether the application will be guaranteed issue. If not, plan on underwriting.
4. Get the city's creditable drug coverage notice and line up Part D
Medicare Supplements do not include drug coverage, so a stand-alone Part D plan is needed alongside one. Plans must tell Medicare-eligible members each year whether drug coverage is creditable. CMS says that notice is due before October 15 each year. A late enrollment penalty can apply after 63 or more days in a row without Part D or other creditable coverage, and that penalty is generally added for as long as the person has Medicare drug coverage. When leaving employer or union coverage, Medicare.gov says you can join a Medicare drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan for 2 full months after the month that coverage ends. See Part D help in Lakeland, late enrollment penalties, and Check prescriptions before you enroll.
What to do: keep the city notice with your records. Pick Part D so it starts the day after city coverage ends. Return any plan letter asking about prior creditable coverage by its deadline.
5. Ask the city whether your spouse can ever come back
Ask City of Lakeland Risk Benefits whether a spouse can ever come back onto the city plan. The city's 2025 Plan A Summary Plan Description says a retiree's spouse or dependents must be on the plan one year (360+ days) to be eligible as a retiree dependent, and: "At any time a retiree cancels health insurance on themselves and their spouse it is LOST for LIFE. The only exception to this rule is if a retiree marries." That quote is from the 2025 SPD. Confirm the current 2027 rules, and how they apply to removing only the spouse, with City Risk Benefits. Also ask when you are allowed to remove a spouse (open enrollment versus mid-year) and the exact last day of city coverage. Contact City of Lakeland Risk Benefits at (863) 834-6797 or benefits@lakelandgov.net. Use the city's Benefits Contacts page and Retiree Benefits page. The Benefits Team address is 520 N. Lake Parker Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801.
What to do: get the re-entry rule and last day of coverage in writing before you cancel.
6. List your spouse's doctors and prescriptions first
Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement works with providers that accept Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans generally use networks. Each Part D or Medicare Advantage plan has its own drug list and pharmacy network. 2027 plan details became available to compare on October 1, 2026. See Keep your doctor and Check prescriptions before you enroll.
What to do: bring a list of doctors, drugs with doses, and preferred pharmacy to a review.
7. Line up dates so there is no gap
Use this sequence: (1) confirm Part A and Part B; (2) get the city's last-day-of-coverage date in writing; (3) apply for a Medicare Supplement with an effective date the day after city coverage ends; (4) enroll in Part D, or a Medicare Advantage plan, with the same start date; (5) only then submit the city change. Medicare plan coverage starts on the first of a month, so ask the city whether coverage ends on the last day of a month.
What to do: write down every start date and end date before you cancel city coverage.
Your three options, side by side
| Keep city plan | Medicare Supplement + Part D | Medicare Advantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needs Part A & B | Ask city | Yes (Medigap) | Yes |
| Doctors | City plan network rules | Providers that accept Medicare | Usually a plan network |
| Drugs | City plan | Separate Part D plan | Often included |
| Health questions to join | No | Possible outside Medigap OE / GI rights | Generally no |
| When you can switch | City rules | Medigap any time if approved; Part D in SEP or Oct 15–Dec 7 | SEP or Oct 15–Dec 7 |
| Can you go back to the city plan? | n/a | Ask city in writing | Ask city in writing |
A Medicare Supplement covers one person; the spouse buys their own policy (Medicare.gov). Keeping the city plan can still be the right call, especially if the spouse cannot pass underwriting. Compare the structures in Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement and Plan G vs. Plan N.
Compare the full-year cost, not the monthly premium
Build the comparison as a checklist. Do not use a guessed premium.
- 12 months of the city premium, plus city deductible, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum
- Medicare Supplement premium plus Part D premium, Part D cost-sharing, and any Medigap cost-sharing
- The spouse's Part B premium, which is paid in either case
For the drug side of that comparison, see 2027 drug costs.
Key 2026–2027 dates
- October 15 through December 7, 2026: Medicare Open Enrollment for Part D and Medicare Advantage. Changes generally start January 1, 2027. See the AEP checklist and When can I switch Medicare plans.
- Medigap is not tied to Open Enrollment. Approval and underwriting rules depend on the person's situation.
- Part D or Medicare Advantage after leaving employer or union coverage: 2 full months after the month that coverage ends.
- January 1 through March 31, 2027: General Enrollment Period for anyone missing Part B.
Where to get help
- David Huff, licensed Florida health agent (FL #W371813 / NPN 18213932), compares the options he is appointed to represent. Call (863) 640-3102, email david@lakelandhealthinsurance.com, or request a review. Start with Lakeland Medicare help or Medicare help in Lakeland.
- Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Florida SHINE, the state SHIP that the city manager pointed retirees to, offers unbiased counseling: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337), floridashine.org.
- City of Lakeland Risk Benefits for city plan rules: (863) 834-6797, benefits@lakelandgov.net, Benefits Contacts, and Retiree Benefits.
Frequently asked questions
Should my spouse leave the City of Lakeland health plan for a Medicare Supplement and Part D?
It can make sense, but only after three things are confirmed: your spouse has Medicare Part A and Part B, a Medicare Supplement insurer has approved the application, and a Part D plan (or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage) is set to start when city coverage ends. Compare the full-year cost of each option, not just the monthly premium.
Does my spouse need Medicare Part B to buy a Medicare Supplement?
Yes. Medicare.gov says you generally have to sign up for Part A and Part B before you can buy a Medigap policy. If your spouse does not have Part B, retiree coverage ending does not qualify for a Part B Special Enrollment Period. Your spouse may have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) and could owe a late enrollment penalty.
Can a Medicare Supplement insurer in Florida turn my spouse down?
It depends on timing. During the 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month someone is 65 or older and has Part B, an insurer cannot use medical underwriting. After that, an insurer may be allowed to deny an application that does not meet its underwriting requirements unless a guaranteed issue right applies. Apply and get approved before dropping the city plan.
Is there a guaranteed issue right when a city retiree drops a Medicare spouse from the plan?
Do not assume so. Federal rules give a guaranteed issue right when employer group coverage, including retiree coverage, that pays after Medicare is ending, with up to 63 days to apply. Florida law has a separate 2-month window after group health coverage terminates. Whether either applies when you choose to remove your spouse from the city's self-insured plan should be confirmed in writing by the Medigap insurer before you cancel.
Will my spouse owe a Part D late enrollment penalty after leaving the city plan?
A penalty can apply after 63 or more days in a row without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable drug coverage. Ask the city for its creditable coverage notice and keep it. Medicare.gov says that when you leave employer or union coverage, you can join a Medicare drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan for 2 full months after the month that coverage ends. Set start dates so there is no gap.
Can my spouse get back on the City of Lakeland plan later?
Ask City of Lakeland Risk Benefits and get the answer in writing. The city's 2025 Summary Plan Description says that at any time a retiree cancels health insurance on themselves and their spouse, it is "LOST for LIFE," with an exception for a retiree who marries. Confirm how the current rules apply to removing only a spouse before you make a change.
Is Medicare Advantage an option instead of a Supplement and Part D?
Yes. Medicare Advantage is another way to get Medicare coverage from a private plan, and many plans include drug coverage and use provider networks. Your spouse needs Part A and Part B to join. Changes made during Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, generally take effect January 1, 2027. Check doctors and prescriptions either way.
Want a review before you drop the city plan?
Bring your city open enrollment letter, your spouse's Medicare card dates, and a list of doctors and prescriptions. A review is not enrollment. David Huff, licensed Florida health agent, FL #W371813 / NPN 18213932.
Call David (863) 640-3102 Request a reviewdavid@lakelandhealthinsurance.com · Contact
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 65 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Related Medicare resources
Sources
Sources reviewed October 6, 2026:
- Lakeland Sun, David Miller, Sept. 28, 2026 — FY2027 budget, spouse-rate change, Lucab example under the proposed changes, staff advice, and SHINE referral.
- LkldNow, Josh Shepherd, Sept. 25, 2026 — vote date and city officials' count of 96 retirees.
- City of Lakeland 2026 Employee Benefit Highlights booklet — group insurance plan year January 1 through December 31.
- City of Lakeland 2025 Medical/Rx Summary Plan Description, Plan A — 360-day rule and "LOST for LIFE" cancellation language. Confirm current rules with Risk Benefits.
- City of Lakeland Benefits Contacts and Retiree Benefits — Risk Benefits phone and email, verified October 6, 2026.
- Medicare.gov Medigap basics and Get ready to buy.
- Medicare.gov, Choosing a Medigap Policy (CMS Product No. 02110, March 2026).
- KFF, Medigap May Be Elusive for Medicare Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions.
- Florida Statutes s. 627.6741.
- Medicare.gov, When does Medicare coverage start.
- Medicare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods.
- Medicare.gov, creditable coverage and CMS creditable coverage disclosure.
- Florida SHINE.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 65 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Company inventory note: The counts above reflect the licensed company inventory for the 2027 plan year in the Lakeland/Polk County service area, confirmed for ZIP 33812, as of October 1, 2026. They are not CMS counts or statewide Florida totals. Counts and available products vary by ZIP code, service area, plan year, and current company authorization. Confirm the ZIP code and current approved platform inventory before relying on these figures. Plan availability, benefits, networks, formularies, pharmacies, and costs are subject to the applicable plan documents and service area.
David Huff is a licensed Florida health agent, FL #W371813 / NPN 18213932. Lakeland Health Insurance, (863) 640-3102, david@lakelandhealthinsurance.com. City of Lakeland is cited as a news subject only. This page does not imply City of Lakeland, SHINE, or Medicare affiliation or endorsement. A review is not enrollment.