Find health coverage and plan your transition to Medicare as your 65th birthday approaches....
If you’re planning on retiring early, finding health insurance to cover you until you’re ready for Medicare is likely an important part of your strategy. The following resources can help guide you on finding health coverage to last you through this period, as well as your transition to Medicare when you turn 65.
Health coverage before Medicare
You may have a few options for bridging the gap between employer-based coverage and Medicare when you retire. Some common sources of health coverage before you turn 65 include:
- Coverage through your spouse’s employer.
- Continued employer coverage through COBRA.
- A health plan bought directly from an insurance company, or through a private (non-government) marketplace.
- A health plan bought through an ACA Marketplace plan (such as HealthCare.gov).
Resources to help you explore your options:
- Finding health insurance before Medicare. Create a timeline of coverage options and estimate your costs.
Transition from COBRA or ACA coverage to Medicare
If you decide to enroll in COBRA or ACA Marketplace coverage, it's important to know when and how to transition from those plans into Medicare. These articles can help you navigate this change:
- How COBRA works with Medicare
- Transitioning from health insurance through an ACA Marketplace to Medicare
Getting ready for Medicare
Learn how Medicare works
As Medicare gets closer, you may need help understanding the parts of Medicare and the coverage choices ahead of you. These resources can help you understand how Medicare works, the types of coverage you may want to sign up for, the monthly costs you can expect to pay:
- Medicare Basics
- What’s the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans?
- How much does Medicare cost each month?
Learn when and how to enroll in Medicare
As you near 65, these resources can help you learn when and how to sign up for Medicare:
When you’re ready for Medicare, we can help!