When people pursue a gray divorce later in life, they almost always worry about the financial implications of ending their long-term marriage. The longer people stay married, the more assets they have to divide.
All of their plans for retirement may have factored in a combination of both spouses’ resources and shared living expenses. There are also retirement benefits to consider. Particularly if one spouse stayed home to take care of the family and the other worked, the non-working spouse may not necessarily be eligible for Medicare benefits on their own. They may worry about having access to medical care later in life.
Does divorce eliminate Medicare eligibility for non-working spouses?
Divorced spouses can still qualify
The good news for those feeling anxious about losing Medicare eligibility after a divorce is that the government acknowledges long-term marriage and divorce in Medicare policy. If an older adult is only eligible for Medicare because of their spouse’s employment, they may still be able to qualify for Medicare coverage after they divorce.
Provided that the marriage lasted for at least 10 years, a dependent spouse who is not eligible for Medicare coverage on their own could qualify based on the employment history of their spouse. Their eligibility for benefits does not diminish the coverage rights of their spouse. Their eligibility may change if they remarry and become eligible based on the employment history of a new spouse.
Learning more about retirement benefits and divorce can help people avoid scenarios in which they feel trapped in miserable marriages because they previously made career sacrifices for their family. Those concerned about retirement resources and benefits they want to discuss their divorce plans with an attorney before they make any major legal moves accordingly.