Turning 65 · Younger spouse · Michigan
Your spouse is going on Medicare. What about your coverage?
Medicare is for people 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities, so a younger spouse usually needs a plan of their own. Here are the options and the deadlines.
Your info goes to Nexus and is never sold. We share it only as our Privacy Policy explains, for example with your insurer when you enroll.
- COBRA up to 36 months in some cases
- 60-day Marketplace window
- Report Medicare 3 months ahead
Cover me until I'm 65
Your info goes to Nexus and is never sold. We share it only as our Privacy Policy explains (for example, with your insurer when you enroll). No pitch, no obligation.
Your options, by situation
- Spouse keeps working with job coverage: you may be able to stay on that plan; ask the employer. (Your spouse’s own Medicare choices are separate.)
- Spouse retires and the job plan ends: COBRA generally lets family members keep it for 18 months. If the employee became entitled to Medicare less than 18 months before leaving the job, family members can get up to 36 months from the Medicare date.[4] COBRA generally applies to employers with at least 20 employees.[4]
- Losing that coverage: you can buy a Marketplace plan within the Special Enrollment Period.[2,5] If you’re actually enrolled in retiree coverage, you can’t get a tax credit on a Marketplace plan, and dropping retiree coverage on purpose doesn’t open a Special Enrollment Period.[5]
- Both of you already on a Marketplace plan: it doesn’t end automatically when Medicare starts. Report your spouse’s Medicare start date up to 3 months early, then confirm the plan for the person staying on.[1]
What one 60-year-old pays (2026, monthly, before credits)
| County | Lowest Bronze | Benchmark Silver | Lowest Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | $740.38 | $1,078.37 | $1,154.07 |
| Oakland | $733.13 | $1,077.07 | $1,152.67 |
| Macomb | $733.13 | $1,077.07 | $1,152.67 |
| Kent | $756.83 | $1,001.22 | $1,031.10 |
| Genesee | $808.96 | $824.03 | $869.48 |
| Washtenaw | $894.75 | $1,038.38 | $1,095.66 |
| Ottawa | $756.83 | $1,001.22 | $1,031.10 |
| Ingham | $883.87 | $951.85 | $1,004.35 |
| Kalamazoo | $896.19 | $955.44 | $1,008.14 |
| Saginaw | $851.35 | $1,343.40 | $1,450.02 |
| Marquette | $1,121.61 | $1,932.56 | $1,996.28 |
CMS plan year 2026 file, individual age 60, non-smoker. “Lowest Bronze” includes Expanded Bronze.[3] After your spouse moves to Medicare, your household for the tax credit still includes your spouse if you file jointly.[6] 2027 prices are published November 1, 2026.[7]
Retiring too? See early retirees under 65 and COBRA vs. Marketplace.
Sources
- HealthCare.gov, Medicare and the Marketplace. https://www.healthcare.gov/medicare/medicare-and-the-marketplace/
- HealthCare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods. https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/
- CMS, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical file, plan year 2026 (HealthCare.gov states), Michigan rows. https://data.healthcare.gov/datafile/py2026/individual_market_medical.zip
- U.S. Department of Labor, An Employee’s Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA. https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ebsa/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/publications/an-employees-guide-to-health-benefits-under-cobra.pdf
- HealthCare.gov, Health coverage for retirees. https://www.healthcare.gov/retirees/
- HealthCare.gov, Who to include in your household. https://www.healthcare.gov/income-and-household-information/household-size/
- HealthCare.gov, Dates and deadlines. https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/dates-and-deadlines/
Checked October 16, 2026. 2027 Marketplace plans and final 2027 rates aren’t published yet; we’ll update this page when they are.
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover my spouse?
Medicare is for people 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities. A spouse who doesn't qualify on their own needs other coverage, such as a job plan, COBRA or a Marketplace plan.
Get my options or call 616-808-9426.
How long can I keep COBRA after my spouse goes on Medicare?
Generally 18 months after the job ends. If the employee became entitled to Medicare less than 18 months before leaving the job, family members can get up to 36 months from the Medicare date.
Get my options or call 616-808-9426.
Can I get a Marketplace plan if my spouse's employer coverage ends?
Yes. Losing coverage you had through a spouse can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period.
Get my options or call 616-808-9426.
Will you sell my information?
No. We do not sell your information. Nexus uses it to answer your request and shares it only as our Privacy Policy explains, for example with your insurance carrier when you enroll, or with service providers that help us run our website.
Get my options or call 616-808-9426.