My husband who is working will retire in 2011. I am not 65 and will work another 2 years. I am covered by his employer insurance. Do we stay with COBRA even though he's eligible for Medicare? Can I, his dependent get COBRA myself? Can he go on Medicare and I on Cobra? Please clarify time limits for coverage -- some say 18 months and because he's covered under Medicare, I would be covered for 36 months. I won't be 65 until October, 2013. My part-time job doesn't have medical coverage. Please help clarify. Thank you, Jan

When your husband retires, you are losing your health coverage, so that is a qualifying event. You should enroll in COBRA for 18 months, as long as he does not work for a church or small employer.

You are probably only entitled to 18 months of COBRA, because of IRS Revenue Ruling 2004-22.

A spouse is not entitled to an extension of the COBRA maximum coverage period to 36 months because the employee's entitlement to Medicare could not be a qualifying event. Eligibility for medicare is not a triggering event for COBRA.

http://www.cobrahealth.com/medicare.htm

I put off enrolling in Medicare Part D since I had drug coverage through my cobra plan. Now I need to enroll so my prescriptions are covered. Now do I need to be underwritten not that my cobra is ending?

x2 issues. i think your cobra counts towards are pre existing conditions, the problem is there are certain dates of open enrollment in part D.You might also be charged a premium penalty for enrolling after age 65.