Tempe is younger than most of the valley, and its Medicare-age residents are often either long-time homeowners who have watched the city change around them, or people still working at Arizona State and the surrounding employers.
Working past 65 at a large employer
Arizona State and the larger Tempe employers have well over 20 employees, which means active employer coverage generally lets you delay Part B without penalty and enrol later through a Special Enrolment Period.
That is the good news. The details still matter:
- Confirm in writing that your coverage is active employment coverage, not retiree coverage.
- If you contribute to an HSA, stop before Medicare starts. Part A can be backdated up to six months, creating a retroactive tax problem.
- Your six-month Medigap window starts when Part B starts, not at 65. Plan the sequence, because it does not reopen.
Retiree coverage from a university or state employer
If you retire with a retiree health plan, it usually coordinates with Medicare rather than replacing it, and it typically requires you to enrol in Part B. Bring the plan documents — the coordination rules vary and getting them wrong can leave gaps.
Central valley access
Tempe sits close to both the Phoenix and east-valley hospital systems, and to our Mesa office at 5110 E. Southern Ave. Maricopa County's plan menu applies.
Maricopa County · ZIP codes: 85281–85285, 85287
Comparing plans costs you nothing
We are an independent agency with offices in Mesa and Sun City. Bring your doctor list and your prescription list and we will check them against what is actually offered in Maricopa County — at no cost, with no obligation. You can also compare every plan available in your area yourself at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day.
Common questions
I work at a large Tempe employer. Can I delay Medicare?
Usually yes for Part B, if the coverage is active employment coverage from an employer with 20 or more employees. Confirm in writing that it is active rather than retiree coverage, and stop HSA contributions before Medicare begins.
I have retiree coverage from a state employer. Do I still need Part B?
Almost certainly. Retiree plans generally coordinate with Medicare rather than replacing it, and most require you to enrol in Part B. Retiree coverage also does not let you delay Part B without penalty — only active employment coverage does.
