Bridge the years to Medicare with confidence
Retiring before 65 leaves a gap Medicare won't fill yet — and COBRA fills it at full group price for a limited time. Private PPO plans bridge those years with broad networks and premiums you choose.
How many people in your household need health insurance coverage?
Including yourself.
The usual problem
- Medicare doesn't start until 65
- COBRA runs out — usually after 18 months — at 102% of group cost
- Unsubsidized Marketplace premiums at pre-Medicare ages
- Wanting to keep long-standing doctors
The private PPO answer
- A true bridge. Coverage designed to carry you from retirement day to Medicare day.
- Keep your doctors. Broad PPO networks make it more likely your existing physicians are in.
- No enrollment window. Retire in March, get covered in March.
Health coverage between retirement and Medicare
The years between an early retirement and your 65th birthday are some of the most expensive to insure — and the age bands that push Marketplace premiums up hit hardest exactly then. COBRA can carry you at first, but it expires and costs the full group rate plus 2%.
A private PPO gives California early retirees a third path: enroll the month employer coverage ends, choose a deductible that matches your savings strategy, and keep a broad network through the bridge years. When Medicare begins, you simply transition off.
What happens when you reach out
Answer three quick questions and a licensed California advisor gives you a call. They handle whatever you need — mapping the bridge to 65, checking your doctors, enrollment — free and unhurried.
Frequently asked questions
I'm 62 and just retired — what are my options?
COBRA (temporary and expensive), the Marketplace (annual windows, income-tested subsidies), or a private PPO (year-round enrollment, fixed premium). An advisor can walk you through all three honestly.
What happens when I turn 65?
You enroll in Medicare and end the private plan. Your advisor can help time the transition so there's no gap or overlap.
Can my younger spouse stay covered after I move to Medicare?
Yes — a spouse under 65 can keep their own private plan until their own Medicare eligibility.