Health insurance desert?

[Skidmore]

My husband is trying to get to the point where he can at last retire in a couple of years. He carries our health care policy through his job. I've been starting to look at some health care plans to see how much of our budget they will eat up. He is currently 72 and I'm 60. I plugged our basic info into a site that generates quotes and came up with the following. We qualify for zero plans on that site because we are both too old. Isn't that the pantload?

Results based on 2 applicants located in XXXX County, effective 07/01/2013 (Edit)

Based on the information you provided, these special rules apply to you.

If the conditions described do not apply to you, please verify that you have entered the correct
information on the previous page.

A.M. Best Rating: A
UnitedHealthOne requires the first applicant to be younger than 64.50 years. Feel free to call 877-751-9310 to discuss your options with one of our helpful insurance representatives.



A.M. Best Rating: A-
Coventry Health Care of Iowa, Inc. requires the first applicant to be younger than 65. Feel free to call 877-751-9310 to discuss your options with one of our helpful insurance representatives.



A.M. Best Rating: A+
IHC Group requires your spouse to be younger than 55. Feel free to call 877-751-9310 to discuss your options with one of our helpful insurance representatives.

IHC Group requires the first applicant to be younger than 55. Feel free to call 877-751-9310 to discuss your options with one of our helpful insurance representatives.


A.M. Best Rating: A
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa requires the first applicant to be younger than 65. Feel free to call 877-751-9310 to discuss your options with one of our helpful insurance representatives.

[Schema Thing]

1. Isn't medicare going to be by far the best option?

I thought that was available to anyone over 65?

[Skidmore]

2. For my husband, possibly yes.

I have some years to go before I qualify and I do need coverage since I need to check in with the oncologist on an annual basis for a battery of tests.

[MineralMan]

3. If you're 70, you already qualify.

You both do.

[Skidmore]

4. Whoops. I aged myself a decade. I'm 60.

[MineralMan]

5. Ah. Then you'll need to be the principal applicant.

Expensive. Next year, you'll be able to use the exchange, I think.

[Nay]

6. That's because your husband will be enrolled in Medicare and will not (theoretically) need

private insurance. Will his workplace automatically extend his present insurance to cover you both as you retire? His insurance would be converted to a Medigap-type insurance, and you as a dependent would keep the company insurance (maybe at the employee rate?) until you became 65, when you would enroll in Medicare and may be able to get the company's Medigap coverage.

The first place to go is to his workplace, to inquire about their insurance offerings for retirees. Generally, insurance from the company you are retiring from is much cheaper because it is a group policy, not an individual one. ACA policies will suck when compared to group policies.

Now, if retirees from his company get no insurance benefits, then he must go on Medicare. You will have to look for an individual ACA policy for yourself.