Bob

What about on the flip, and she was the one that worked the years? One person would still need the 10 years or could they combine them? She'd be 65 in 6 years, so if able to piggy back off each other?

Michael

You can either qualify on your own income or your spouses income but not the combination of both. If you qualify on your spouses income for medicare and the spouse reaches 65 before you, you still can not receive medicare benefits until you are 65.

As far as social security, the amount of benefits are based on the amount of the contribution over the years and if you qualify on your spouses income, you will get a percentage of the spouses benefits where as if you qualify on your own income, you will get the full benefit. You can apply either way which ever is best for you. If you had a very low income and even though you qualify on your own income, the benefits may possibly be better to qualify on the spouses income if the spouse had a high income.

SanDiegogirl

With private individual insurance you would be surprised as to what the insurance companies regard as pre-conditions. From high blood pressure to asthma to cancer. It is unlikely that, since you are aged 55, you have led a medical history free life.

Also, the rates that are provided on insurance websites are usually pre-underwriting rates and even if you get the rate as quoted it WILL go up after 6 months and then every year thereafter.

I started paying in May 2009 at $251 per month and it is now at $471 per month. Health care costs are out of control in the US - there is no mechanism for keeping costs down.

Michael

Plus they can normally cancel you on a whim if you are on an individual insurance policy and not company policy.