Regardless of age and health issues she is paying entirely too much. Go to an insurance agent that sells Medicare Supplements and Medicare Part D (prescription drugs). The Insurance company cannot refuse to enroll her the first time for any reason. Also, check with an agent for dental coverage. I am 69 and pay about $30 per month with Aetna for dental and $120 (Plan G) for the Medicare Supplement that pays the balance after Conventional Medicare Part A and B (80%). Depending on age the Medicare Supplement, Plan F that pays all claim amounts (if Medicare pays for the procedure) with no copay or deductible should cost about $100 per month. Likely, you will find that aetna currently has the lowest price. Regardless of the company, all providers in her state must offer identical coverage with the premium being the only variable. Plan G will even be a lower price than Plan F with the only difference being she will pay an annual Medicare deductible for 2013 of $147. Medicare part D pricing will vary but Medicare has an excellent website where you can enter the drugs taken and you will find the out of pocket pricing. I now pay about $30 per month with First Health and pay nothing for Tier 1 generic drugs. I have changed providers now 3 times due to lower prices offered by another provider. I shop every year! The Part D prescription various amounts depending on the provider and plan chosen. In general, it covers about 40% of drug costs unless it is a tier 1 generic drug. Be careful that you do the research because one can be screwed. So, with the Medicare Supplement, Medicare Part D and dental insurance, the monthly cost should be about $160. Keep in mind that she can pay much more if she falls in love with an insurance company as she already has. She is likely paying a 3% administrative fee to her past employer for Cobra. Cobra should only be a temporary alternative until one is 65 and qualifies for Medicare.

I've been paying roughly $1000-$1200/month for myself since my husband's retirement over ten years ago. That does not include kids. We covered them on student health plans, which turned out to be cheaper in sum. I can give you a couple of tips: Don't bother with the Federal Health Exchange site unless you will qualify for a supplement of some kind. It's not a terrible site, but you'll have to do everything yourself. You are better off contacting a local insurance broker (I found mine on NextDoor). It may end being a very simple decision because in many markets there is only one company that sells to non-group members. So I can buy a gold, silver or bronze plan, but only from Community Health Choice (Houston suburb). My plan offers a 10% discount for completing an annual survey. I'd had the same plan the year before but never knew about that discount until the agent told me -so ask about that. Try not to panic when you read the crazy deductibles. I think mine is $5000 (whereas ten years ago, it was probably $500), but so much preventative care is now covered pre-deductible, thanks to Obama care, that I think I'm spending less out-of-pocket than I did before. But I'm a pretty healthy person who doesn't use a lot of medical services except preventative, so your mileage may vary... When I first began to buy my own insurance plans (after DH's retirement), I made the mistake of picking the plan first, rather than the doctor. The last few years (when I had a choice of at least 2 companies to choose from), I compiled a list of at least a dozen primary physicians I could abide, and then called their offices to see if they were accepting new patients, when I would be able to get an appointment, and whether they had any plans to cancel coverage with insurance company X the next year, etc. I had learned the hard way (in January), that I may have had a great plan, but I couldn't find a dr. on that plan who would see me as a new patient before August. I kid you not.....So that year, I was paying $1200/month and actually didn't have a dr. I could see until August.....

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.

Still need to have the responsible person check with their state department that handles Medicaid as posted above. The young woman may be covered until 19 but she may also have to provide additional documentation. I would also worry about after she is 19. Also an FYI public policy varies from state to state, county to county, and from city to local taxing entity so always check your local groups.