Before Medicare, Sticker Shock and Rejection

IF you want to retire before you are 65 and eligible for Medicare, health insurance is vital to your plans. Without it, you risk losing everything. Less than a third of employers offer retiree health benefits, down from almost half in 1993, according to a survey by the Mercer Health and Benefits consulting firm. Those without retiree health benefits who are eligible can use a patchwork of federal and state laws to build an insurance bridge — although an expensive one — to Medicare.Usually, however, the best, least-expensive option is to buy an individual policy, but that can be problematic if you have pre- existing health conditions.