I retired, and wanted to know if my wife was eligible for 36 months Cobra benefits. They are over the end of this year, but she will not be eligible for Medicare until next April. So she won't be covered for 4 months. How do we get her health insurance during this lapse?

If she exhaust COBRA coverage and applys within 63 days from the termination of COBRA, you wife can apply under the HIPAA category without meeting the three-month go-bare requirement and without a pre-existing condition waiting period.

Is your wife healthy? She could get temporary health insurance. In 2014, she will be able to buy health insurance without big insurance saying no - they have to cover her!