Medicare and Medicaid When You're Divorced
Medicare and Health Insurance Issues
If you receive Medicare part A (which covers hospitalizations among other things) through your spouses’ work history, you are still eligible after divorce if you are unmarried and your marriage lasted ten years or more. This means you will have to think carefully about the cost of Medicare coverage before remarrying.
Divorce does not affect your eligibility for Medicare part B (which covers regular medical care and other things) but it might affect your premium. Medicare part B is not free. The cost is based on your income, and the premium may be based on your tax return from two years ago. Because that return may have included your spouse’s income on a joint return, your premium may be unrealistically high after your divorce. You can apply for a premium adjustment, but you will have to do that proactively.
If you are covered under your spouse's employer-sponsored health insurance plan and divorce before reaching the Medicare eligibility age of 65, finding immediate coverage is paramount.
COBRA: You can legally remain on your ex-spouse's employer plan for up to 36 months under federal COBRA laws. However, you will likely be responsible for paying the entire monthly premium yourself, plus an administrative fee.
Vermont Health Connect: A final divorce decree counts as a Qualifying Life Event. This opens a special enrollment window to buy a plan directly through Vermont Health Connect, where your newly reduced single-income status may qualify you for federal premium subsidies.