Health Care for the Retired

Steve S · #1 10-12-2009, 12:37 PM

I'm currently 60 years old,my wife is 58 and both of us have health insurance through our jobs. We are also diabetic. She a Type 1 and me a Type 2.

I came to the mainland 40 years ago to go to school, found employment and started a family. My children are now closer to 30. When we returned last month from a vacation in Hawaii, ....I wanted to stay there. Last winter in Seattle was horrible and I don't want to experience that again. My wife and I have had discussions regarding moving back to Hawaii. We've saved some money so don't have a strong need to find high paying employment. We don't want to work full time anymore. We are thinking about selling our house and purchasing something smaller in Hilo which is where my family is from.

What we worry about is health care. We're not eligible for medicare so wonder what kinds of options we would have.

Ericman197 · #2 10-12-2009, 04:04 PM

Did you just retire? Through COBRA you may be able to get a little more time out of your current health insurance. Otherwise, as far as I know, you'll probably have to either get a job, or buy private insurance until you qualify for medicare. Health insurance is going to be pricey for the two of you, especially considering your age and diabetes, but you never know if you're going to need it.

I know very little about Hawaii and what other options are available, but I know you could probably get coverage with Kaiser. I don't have any experience with them, but like any HMO... strong points, weak points...

funkalicious101 · #3 10-12-2009, 09:34 PM

You would trust health insurance you got from something called COBRA?

bui · #4 10-12-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkalicious101

You would trust health insurance you got from something called COBRA?

You do know that GI Joe is fictional....?

iamlowsound · #5 10-12-2009, 10:46 PM

I have nothing to add to this thread, except that I keep reading the title as "Health Care for the Retarded".

lowsound

funkalicious101 · #6 10-12-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bui

You do know that GI Joe is fictional....?

You do know that poisonous snakes are entirely real....?

James Hart · #7 10-12-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkalicious101

You would trust health insurance you got from something called COBRA?

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html

"Congress passed the landmark Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions in 1986. The law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated."

seanm · #8 10-13-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bui

You do know that GI Joe is fictional....?

GI Joe is real! Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!

To the OP: I'd say move to Canada, but if you don't like Seattle winters, you really won't like the winters here

WorkinOnIt · #9 10-13-2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html

"Congress passed the landmark Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit provisions in 1986. The law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated."

When I was laid-off I had a chance to keep my insurance via COBRA. It would have cost $950/month to do that.

I scrambled and managed to get on my wife's insurance for about half that. Whew. Still way too much IMO.

James Hart · #10 10-13-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorkinOnIt

When I was laid-off I had a chance to keep my insurance via COBRA. It would have cost $950/month to do that.

I scrambled and managed to get on my wife's insurance for about half that. Whew. Still way too much IMO.

I didn't say it was useful... just defining COBRA for the non-googling folk

WorkinOnIt · #11 10-13-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

I didn't say it was useful... just defining COBRA for the non-googling folk

Oh, I know. I just thought I would provide my little anecdotal story.

To the OP: One option I can think of at the moment would be Medicaid if your income is low enough and you don't have too much in assets. You can get a lawyer that specializes in elder law and see if any of your assets can be excluded. You might be able to gift money to your kids to qualify, but Medicaid has a 'look-back' period to exclude certain types of asset transfers.

However, you have to know the State might own your house and all your assets after your passing. So be wary!

Steve S · #12 10-13-2009, 11:39 AM

I printed the info on COBRA and will read it very carefully but $950 a month for health insurance is a lot. When does a person qualify for Medicaid?

I never looked into these things when I was younger....

Ericman197 · #13 10-13-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

I printed the info on COBRA and will read it very carefully but $950 a month for health insurance is a lot. When does a person qualify for Medicaid?

I never looked into these things when I was younger....

The price is going to vary depending on what kind of coverage you had before. It could be more, or less. It may be better than what you'd get through Kaiser... maybe not.

Medicaid is not likely to be an option for you. If you retired, I assume you have assets saved up? Eligibility varies by state and category, but if you're above the poverty line and have any substantial amount of money in savings, you'll probably not be eligible for medicaid.

Kosko · #14 10-13-2009, 12:56 PM

Healthcare in the US is retarded. I don't know what options are available to you, probably not medicaid unless you're poor enough. I do know that you should be able to have healthcare at a reasonable cost, regardless of age, finances or pre-existing condition.

Deluge Of Sound · #15 10-13-2009, 01:22 PM

Without getting political, about an hour ago your situation seemed to get a little brighter.

XtreO · #16 10-13-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I have nothing to add to this thread, except that I keep reading the title as "Health Care for the Retarded".

lowsound

word

Steve S · #17 10-14-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ericman197

Medicaid is not likely to be an option for you. If you retired, I assume you have assets saved up? Eligibility varies by state and category, but if you're above the poverty line and have any substantial amount of money in savings, you'll probably not be eligible for medicaid.

Jeez...

Thank you for this infor.