Medicare 2026

Medicare After Divorce: When Your Ex-Spouse's Work Record Can Count

Divorce changes a lot of things, and Medicare is one of them. If you were counting on a spouse's work history to qualify for premium-free Part A, or you were covered by their employer plan, you may have questions about what happens next. The good news: in many cases, a long marriage that ended in divorce can still open the door to premium-free Part A. The catch: some deadlines around Part B and drug coverage are strict, and timing matters.

How Part A eligibility works after divorce

You're entitled to premium-free Part A at 65 if you're entitled to — or eligible for — monthly Social Security benefits, even if you haven't filed for them. Benefits paid to a divorced spouse count. Under Social Security's rules, you can qualify on an ex-spouse's record if:

• the marriage lasted at least 10 years immediately before the divorce became final,
• you're at least 62, and
• you're not currently married.

If your ex-spouse is at least 62 and insured but hasn't filed for Social Security yet, you can still qualify on that record as long as the divorce has been final for at least two years.

When you apply for Part A, the application (Form CMS-18-F-5) asks people who aren't currently married whether they had a former marriage that lasted 10 or more years or ended in death. Answer carefully — that question is how Social Security identifies you as potentially eligible on an ex's record.

What if you don't qualify on anyone's record?

If you don't have enough work credits of your own and don't qualify through a current, former, or deceased spouse, you can still buy Part A. For 2026, the premium is $565 a month, or a reduced $311 a month if you had at least 30 quarters of coverage yourself or were married to someone who did. People in this situation should also look closely at whether their state can help with premiums through Medicaid-related assistance programs; details vary, so check Medicare.gov.

A second chance at Part A after 65

Here's a wrinkle that catches people off guard: if your entitlement to monthly Social Security benefits ends after age 65 because of divorce or remarriage, and you don't qualify for premium-free Part A another way, your first month of eligibility for premium Part A moves to that later month, and a new 7-month Initial Enrollment Period begins three months before it. That means you get a fresh window — don't assume you've missed your chance.

Part B: the deadline that trips people up

If you delayed Part B because you had coverage through your spouse's job, you have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up when that job-based coverage ends. It lasts 8 months, and the clock starts when the employment ends or the group health plan coverage ends — whichever happens first.

COBRA is the trap. COBRA is not considered group health plan coverage for this purpose, so electing COBRA after a divorce does not extend your Part B deadline. Neither does retiree coverage. If the employer plan or the job ends, start the 8-month count then, not when COBRA runs out. Missing this window can mean a lifetime late-enrollment penalty and a wait to enroll.

Part D and Medicare Advantage after losing employer coverage

Once you leave employer or union coverage — including COBRA — you have 2 full months after the month that coverage ends to join a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare drug plan.

A few 2027 Part D numbers to know as you compare drug coverage during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027):

• The annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (it's $2,100 in 2026).
• No Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700.
• The national base beneficiary premium — used to calculate any late-enrollment penalty — is $41.33. Actual plan premiums are set plan by plan.

CMS announces the 2027 standard Part B premium, Part B deductible, and IRMAA income brackets in the fall. Until then, no one should quote those figures.

If you have Medicaid or Extra Help

Since 2025, people with Medicaid or Extra Help have a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or to switch stand-alone Part D plans. Full-benefit dual-eligible people can also join an integrated D-SNP in any month. If a divorce changes your income enough to qualify for these programs, these flexible enrollment options may apply to you.

Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy, or Medicare Advantage?

This is a personal decision with trade-offs either way. Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy and a stand-alone Part D plan generally offers broad provider access nationwide and more predictable out-of-pocket costs, but Medigap premiums are an added monthly expense and Medigap doesn't include drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans bundle hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage, often with extra benefits, but typically use provider networks and require following plan rules for referrals or prior authorization. Plan availability, costs, and networks vary by location and change each year. Compare carefully based on your own doctors, prescriptions, and budget.

Don't forget IRMAA

If your income was higher when you were married and is lower now, divorce is one of eight life-changing events Social Security will consider for recalculating your income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) using a more recent year's income. You have to ask — and the new determination applies only to you, not to your ex.

Where can you get help with Medicare questions?

For personalized answers and to compare plans available where you live, go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For Social Security questions about divorced-spouse eligibility or IRMAA, contact the Social Security Administration.

This article is educational. It is not affiliated with any government agency.