Ask Nancy: What happens to our 24-year-old daughter when we go on Medicare?

Question: I know that children under the age of 26 may be carried under their parents' health plan. However, what about our family's situation? I am 68, my wife is 64, and our daughter is 23 and in college. Our daughter is covered under my wife's retiree health plan until my wife reaches 65 next year, at which time her coverage ends and consequently, our daughter's. My wife and I will both be eligible for Medicare, but what about my daughter, who will then be 24, and presumably in graduate school? We live in California.

Answer: You've put your finger on the problem already: when your wife's retiree family coverage ends, so does your daughter's. Needless to say, Medicare does not offer coverage for dependents, whether spouses or kids. Your first move should be to find out whether your wife's retiree plan can be continued under COBRA. I consulted several experts on retiree plans, and it turns out that some plans can be continued under COBRA, and some can't.

If your wife's plan offers COBRA coverage, then your daughter can stay on the plan for up to 36 months by paying the COBRA premium. This is her individual right, whether your wife takes COBRA or not. If COBRA isn't available, or is hugely expensive, your daughter's next-best option is to shop for an individual policy on her own. If she is in good health, she should be able to find an individual health plan for a reasonable price in California. Just make sure it's comprehensive coverage, not junk insurance.

—Nancy Metcalf, Senior Program Editor

Got another question for Nancy? Ask it here.