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.....

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.

Jill302, thank you for that link. It sure looks like the person my DH spoke to was wrong. That makes more sense and makes the choice easier for me. Oakley, BCBS is the provider for the plans I can get that offer some out of network coverage, but it's 30-50% and would apply to everyone I would see at home other than my PCP and in-patient care at one hospital. None of my generic medications would be covered, and for all of that I would be paying hundreds of dollars more each month -- just to not risk being drained or bankrupt by an out of state and out of network medical surprise. I have been covered by BCBS many times, including most recently. I would have stayed with them if they offered individual coverage that would equal my group coverage -- even at the COBRA rates, it would have been a viable option. The plans they do offer individuals don't work for me.