THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 26, 2017
Page 18
Obituary
HELP WANTED
Gaetano M. DePlacido
WAITSTAFF
Savvy Senior by Jim Miller
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Health Coverage Options for Pre-Medicare-Age Spouses
19 Centre St., Wakefield
Dear Savvy Senior, My wife, who is 62, is on my health insurance plan through my employer. When I retire in a few months at 65, and go on Medicare, what are my wife’s options? Is there some kind of Medicare coverage for dependent spouses, or do we have to purchase Obamacare? Approaching Retirement Dear Approaching, Medicare, unfortunately, does not offer family coverage to younger spouses or dependent children when you qualify for Medicare. Nobody can obtain Medicare benefits before age 65, unless eligible at a younger age because of disability. With that said, here are some coverage options, including Obamacare, to consider for your wife. Keep working: If possible, consider working past age 65. This would allow your wife to continue coverage under your employer health insurance until she becomes eligible for Medicare. Employer options: If your employer provides retiree health benefits, check with your benefits administrator to find out if they offer any options that would allow your wife to continue coverage under their plan. Or, if your wife works, see if she can she switch to health insurance provided by her own employer. COBRA: If you work for a company that has 20 or more employees, once you make the switch to Medicare, your wife could stay with your company insurance plan for at least 18 months (but could last up to 36 months) under a federal law called COBRA. You’ll need to sign her up within 60 days after her last day of coverage. But be aware that COBRA isn’t cheap. You’ll pay the full monthly premium yourself, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. To learn more, see DOL.gov/ ebsa/publications/cobraemployee.html or call 866-444-3272. If, however, the company you work for has fewer than 20 employees, you may still be able to get continued coverage through your company if your state has “mini-COBRA.” Contact your state insurance department to see if this is available where you live. Individual insurance: Buy your wife an individual health insurance policy through the Health Insurance Marketplace (aka Obamacare) until she turns 65. The Marketplace, as it stands now, offers comprehensive health coverage and they can’t deny her coverage or charge extra for preexisting health conditions. And, if your income falls below the 400 percent poverty level – anything below $47,520 for an individual or $64,080 for a couple in 2017 – you may be eligible for a tax credit that will reduce the amount you’ll have to pay for a policy. To see how much you can save, see the subsidy calculator on the Kaiser Family Foundation website at KFF.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator. To shop for marketplace plans in your state, visit Healthcare.gov or call their toll-free helpline at 800-318-2596. If, however, your wife isn’t eligible for the government subsidy, or you want additional policy options to what the Marketplace offers, you can also buy health coverage outside the government marketplaces directly through a private insurance company, an online insurance seller, or an agent or broker. This option is not available if you live in Washington D.C. or Vermont. These policies do not offer the federal tax credits, but they are required to offer the same menu of essential benefits as Marketplace policies do, and they can’t deny coverage or charge extra for preexisting health conditions. You might even find slightly lower premiums on outside policies, assuming that you don’t qualify for the tax credits. To find a local broker or agent that sells insurance plans, check the National Association of Health Underwriters website (NAHU.org) which has an online directory. But keep in mind that agents won’t necessarily show you all available policies, just the ones from insurers they work with. You can also look for these plans at insurance shopping sites like eHealthInsurance.com or GoHealth.com, which lists plans and providers that may not be listed on Healthcare.gov.
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f Saugus, formerly East Boston, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the age of 81. Beloved husband of Julia (Perrier) DePlacido. Loving father of Debra Eisan and her husband Richard of Saugus, Lisa Duplisea and her husband Steven of ME, Paul DePlacido and his wife Penny of Billerica, and Joseph DePlacido of NC. Adored grandfather of eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Dear brother of Peter DePlacido and his wife Louise of Saugus, Ann Fabiano of Saugus, and her late husband Nicholas and Anthony DePlacido and his partner Diane of East Boston, and the late Angela Venti and her late husband Joseph. Also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews. Family and friends honored Gaetano’s life by Gathering in Vazza’s “ Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere on Thursday, May 25 and again Friday morning before leaving in procession to the Blessed Sacrament Church, Saugus for a Funeral Mass celebrated in his honor. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Gaetano was a late member of the Army National Guard, Past Grand Knight 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Saugus Council #1829. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gaetano’s name to VNA of Middlesex-East, 607 North Ave., Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880 or to a charity of your choice. For guestbook: www.vazzafunerals.com Vazza Funeral Home Gino Ferri f Saugus, formerly of Winthrop and East Boston, at age 93, peacefully on May 19th surrounded by family. Employed as a sausage maker/meat cutter for over 30 years at Liberty Market in East Boston. Beloved husband of Grace (Spadoni) with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. Loving father of Pia Della Piana & her husband Anthony of Saugus, Eugene Ferri and his wife Geri Anne of North Reading, Mark Ferri and his wife Rosemarie of Saugus. Cherished
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OBITUARIES | SEE PAGE 19
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.