It is likely that those that get it through their spouse would no longer be eligible to do so if they were offered insurance through their employment all depends on that insurers rules. Have you checked what the premiums would be? It has been a long time since I did this, but for my exes business we offered the employees full insurance and the cost was actually less than $2400/year per employee. I guess costs have gone up a lot in the last 12 years. It was an HMO, but it was really good coverage and no referrals needed. I think in this case you don't really have much of a choice as to being able to make all employees happy. I don't think you can. In larger companies the choice is get the insurance or not - there is no other option. Guess you can only look at what the other options are for them as to if they went somewhere else what would they get. Maybe looking at what are the employees options elsewhere if they were to switch jobs would help you see if you need to offer something else or not.

Very few and all expensive. Continuing his coverage if you can or purchase private insurance. You need to check on his employers website or in his employment handbook to see if you can continue the insurance. Depending on how long he has worked for them retiring vs quitting may make a difference in your options. You will in for massive sticker shock.

Well around here many primary care physicians don't take ANY new patients regardless of how they pay. I've not heard of anyone having any worse problem because they are on Medicare. I managed to find a new PCP for DH when his retired but it was difficult being that I wanted someone who was educated in the US and spoke English as their first language. I love my internist but she's my age and I'm concerned about her retirement. I think I may switch to DH's doc while she's still taking new patients. Anyway regarding insurance coverage. I got my Cobra rates from HR today and they are HALF the price of a comparable plan available in the MN marketplace. So I would by all means go that route and it at least reduces the average per year price. It would be nice if I kept working until 18 months before Medicare but not sure that will happen - not willing to work 50-60 hours a week again and never be able to take vacation that doesn't turn into workation. Lots of great things going on at my company since a change in ownership including very interesting, challenging work for me but I'm just not into working all the time any more. Did that for many years and loved it but no longer. Friends have asked me for a few years when I plan to retire. I told them I had no plan but I'd know when it was time. I think the time is coming up soon.

You would do well by finding a good agent in your area - it doesn't cost you anything. First question is whether you are eligible for any kind of tax credit based on your income. If so, you need to purchase through the New York State market. An agent can assist you with this as well. In terms of individual health plans, you need to determine what kind of health consumer you are. Do you want to maximize individual choice or would you be okay with an HMO with a very restricted network. While it is impossible to predict the future in terms of health - ask yourself what kind of a health consumer you are. If you are reasonably healthy, then you probably are okay with a lower tier - silver versus platinum for example. You can run hypothetical cost estimates based on your health care usage - premium (taking into account any tax credit based on income subsidies); co-pays based on your probable use of doctors; deductible and how it is calculated and then calculate the cap on total out of pocket expense. This is going to be different for each individual. If you have the money to cover the maximum annual out of pocket costs, then perhaps you can save on premiums. If you want to really insure yourself against paying high co-payments and deductible, go with a premium plan. Do you have doctors or hospitals that are critical - that could factor into whether you go with one type of plan or another. It's only for a year and so whatever it costs in terms of your choice, you can change it again next open enrollment.