Among us Baby Boomers the new sweet spot is the age at which we qualify for Medicare. That makes all the differences in the choices we can make about work.
Those Baby Boomers a few years younger than I am have to continue to chase employment situations which provide health benefits. And most of them require about an employee monthly contribution of about $1000 for coverage for two people, more if there are additional dependents.
Yet, those who get that benefit count themselves among the fortunate. Those who don't and rely on COBRA, get health insurance through a trade association, or subscribe to whatever plan they can gain access to are paying through the nose. An 62-year-old acquaintance was laid off last November. His COBRA payment for himself and his wife, whose interior decorating business tanked, is $1600 monthly. Another acquaintance who has been running his own micro business pay $1800 monthly for himself and his domestic partner.
Me? On Medicare my payment is about $100 a month, which includes the recent increase. In addition, through Connecticare, my second carrier, I pay $28 a month for dental coverage. Until I was "old enough" for Medicare, I had coverage through a trade association. I paid way too much monthly and had a $3500 deductible.
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