Quick ReadRay cut monthly expenses by a third retiring to rural Mississippi, but a hospital closure made his nearest ER a 62-mile drive. Enrolling in Medigap Plan G during the 6-month open enrollment window and buying an air-ambulance membership protects rural retirees from catastrophic gaps. Living almost entirely on Social Security, he cut his monthly expenses by nearly a third. For a retiree whose Social Security check rose just 2.8% in 2026, that cost advantage matters. When a rural hospital closes, patients must travel farther to reach the same care.