Divorce after 60: What happens to your health benefits?

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. If you have health insurance through your own employer, not much will change, but if you’re on Medicare or your partner’s employer policy, you’ll have to ask some questions. If you were covered under your ex-spouse’s employer plan, you can opt in to coverage under COBRA — the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act — for up to 36 months after the divorce. If you’re 65 or older, you or a spouse must have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters to qualify for free Medicare Part A. “You can, however, qualify based on your new spouse’s history, but they must also have enough credits and be 62 years of age,” says Cameron Valadez, a CFP in Riverside, California.