Janet Bodnar - Health Coverage Is No Slam Dunk

When I was editor of this magazine, I read every story—usu-ally more than once. So when I was planning my retirement as editor earlier this year, I thought I had everything under control.

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Imagine my dismay when I learned that, well prepared though I was, I hadn’t reckoned on some curveballs along the way—especially with regard to Medicare and health insurance—or how labor-intensive it would be to iron out all the devilish details. So I’d like to share a few nuggets of wisdom to smooth the way for future retirees.

Nugget No. 1:

Check your employer’s rules. I knew that I was covered by my employer’s health insurance until the end of July, the month in which I retired. So I figured I also had until the end of July to use money in my flexible spending account. I found out just in time that I had to spend the money by my actual retirement date, July 7. So on July 6, I made a beeline for my optometrist to buy a pair of prescription sunglasses and empty my account.

Nugget No. 2: