Can my wife stay on COBRA if I go on Medicare?
Asked by: Prof. Hector Ziemann | Last update: September 29, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (22 votes)
How long can my spouse stay on COBRA if I go on Medicare?
In that case, COBRA lasts for eighteen months. If the qualifying event is the death of the covered employee, divorce or legal separation of the covered employee from the covered employee's spouse, or the covered employee becoming entitled to Medicare, COBRA for the spouse or dependent child lasts for 36 months.
What happens if you have COBRA when you enroll in Medicare?
If you have COBRA before signing up for Medicare, your COBRA will probably end once you sign up. You have up to 8 months after you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) to sign up for Part B without a penalty, whether or not you choose COBRA.
Can my spouse stay on my health insurance if I go on Medicare?
Unlike employer health plans, Medicare coverage is individual, which means you cannot add dependents, such as a spouse, to your plan. Each person must enroll in their own health plan based on their needs, and there are no coverage discounts for married couples when each is on a different Medicare Advantage plan.
Can a spouse continue COBRA without an employee?
For example, the employee's spouse may elect continuation coverage even if the employee does not. Continuation coverage may be elected for only one, several, or for all dependent children who are qualified beneficiaries. A parent may elect to continue coverage on behalf of any dependent children.
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What is the COBRA loophole?
If you decide to enroll in COBRA health insurance, your coverage will be retroactive, meaning it will apply to any medical bills incurred during the 60-day decision period. This loophole can save you money by avoiding premium payments unless you actually need care during this time.
Can a domestic partner be on COBRA?
Cal-COBRA treats registered domestic partners as qualified beneficiaries. If a registered domestic partner was a health plan participant on the day before a qualifying event, they would be entitled to continuation benefits.
How does ACA work if one spouse is on Medicare?
Yes, you can apply for Obamacare even if your spouse is enrolled in Medicare. Your eligibility for Obamacare depends on your individual circumstances, including income and household size, rather than your spouse's Medicare enrollment.
What is the working spouse rule?
The Plan's Working Spouse Rule states that, if your spouse is working for an employer who offers a health plan, the Plan requires them to enroll in that employer-sponsored coverage to be eligible for Plan coverage. Your spouse must confirm whether they have access to and are enrolled in their employer's health plan.
Does everyone have to pay $170 a month for Medicare?
Most people pay no premiums for Part A. For Medicare Part B in 2025, most beneficiaries will pay $185 per month. Certain factors may require you to pay more or less than the standard Medicare Part B premium in 2025.
Can I have COBRA and Medicaid at the same time?
For many people, COBRA, the insurance you can buy into when you lose your job, is too expensive. And even if you decide to enroll in COBRA, it doesn't mean you can't apply for Medicaid. You can apply for and enroll in Medicaid any time.
Who is not eligible for COBRA?
Why would an employee not qualify to enroll in Cal-COBRA? The employee is enrolled in or eligible for Medicare. The employee does not enroll within 60 days of receiving the notice of eligibility from the employer. The employee is covered by another health plan.
Can I drop my employer health insurance and go on Medicare Part B?
Once you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you can sign up for Medicare (or add Part B to existing Part A coverage).
Can I be on COBRA and Medicare?
If you sign up for COBRA and you are eligible for Medicare at the same time, your COBRA benefits are intended to be paid after Medicare pays, even if you haven't actually signed up for Medicare. And when you do sign up for Medicare later you could be subject to premium penalties for late enrollment.
What happens when one spouse goes on Medicare and the other isn't eligible?
A Medicare-covered spouse's work history could allow their spouse to receive premium-free Medicare Part A. If the other spouse still isn't covered, they will have to purchase a health insurance plan outside of Medicare to receive coverage.
Does COBRA terminate Medicare?
Your COBRA coverage may be terminated if: You become eligible for Medicare. You reach the maximum coverage limit. You do not pay your COBRA premiums on time.
Can I stay on my spouse's health insurance when I turn 65?
It depends on how you are receiving your current insurance. If you are receiving employer-sponsored health insurance through either your or your spouse's job when you turn 65, you may be able to keep your insurance until you (or your spouse) retire(s).
What is the spousal rule?
The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.
What is the spousal coverage program?
A spousal carve out is a health insurance plan design employers use to control health care costs by placing restrictions on coverage for an employee's spouse. Another term used for this type of plan design is the "working spouse rule." Employers commonly use several spousal carve out design variations.
Is there spousal coverage for Medicare?
Medicare covers individuals, not families. While some employer-sponsored group health plans directly cover medical treatments for spouses and dependents, there are no such coverage options on Medicare plans. Each person qualifies on their own.
Can my wife get Medicare if I retire at 65?
Yes! If you worked and paid Medicare taxes through payroll deductions for at least 10 years, then you and your spouse will both for premium-free Medicare Part A at age 65.
Is Medicare primary if your spouse is still working?
But if your spouse works for an employer with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare typically becomes the primary coverage at age 65 and the employer coverage is secondary. In that case, you need to sign up for Medicare at 65 or else you may face gaps in coverage.
How long can a spouse stay on COBRA?
A covered employee's spouse who would lose coverage due to a divorce may elect continuation coverage under the plan for a maximum of 36 months.
Does Social Security recognize domestic partners?
Social Security will often treat domestic partnerships and civil unions the same as marriage for benefit purposes. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are legal relationships between two people that can provide the same rights and responsibilities as married couples.
How much does COBRA cost for a married couple?
You should expect COBRA insurance costs to be substantially higher than what you paid as an employee because your employer is no longer required to pay a share. In 2023, employees paid an average of $145 per month for an individual plan and $548 per month for a family plan, according to KFF.