Medicare Bridge Coverage for Pre-Retirees | Strategic Health Share Administrators
Ages 55–64 · Medicare Bridge

Retire on your terms.
Not on insurance's timeline.

The years between retirement and Medicare are the most expensive for health insurance — and the most avoidable. A cooperative health benefit gives you a real bridge: predictable costs that don't punish you for getting older.

Strategic Health Share Administrators

ACA Silver Plan — Full Price, No Subsidy (2026)

Age 55
$1,313
$15,756 / year
Age 60
$1,598
$19,176 / year
Age 62
$1,691
$20,292 / year
Age 64
$1,766
$21,192 / year
ACA 3:1 rule: A 64-year-old pays up to 3× what a 21-year-old pays for the exact same plan. Premiums rise every single year you age — EverTrust monthly contributions are not based on age.

The COBRA Trap

Why COBRA is not the answer

COBRA lets you keep your employer plan — but at full cost, plus a 2% admin fee. It's temporary, expensive, and leaves you right back where you started the moment it runs out.

Traditional Option
COBRA — Temporary & Expensive
Individual premium~$584–$750/mo — you pay 100% + 2% fee
Family premium~$1,800–$2,200/mo
Maximum duration18 months (36 in some qualifying events)
36-month family total~$79,200 — gone forever
When it endsBack to full-price ACA or uninsured
The Smart Bridge
EverTrust — Coverage That Doesn't Expire
✓Monthly contributionSame rate regardless of your age
✓No age-rating penalty55 or 64 — you pay the same amount
✓No expirationStay enrolled until Medicare at 65
✓Savings vs. COBRAThousands back in your retirement account
✓Flexible enrollmentNo open enrollment window required
$79,200
Why spend $79,200 on COBRA family coverage over 36 months — money that disappears the moment it ends — when you could pay significantly less and keep the difference growing in your retirement account?

What's Included

Benefits on both plans

Every plan includes 100% preventive care, $0 virtual care, and zero-cost medications — the things you're most likely to actually use during the bridge years.

★ 100% Preventive Care
Both plans — no MRA required
★ Mammograms — covered at 100%
★ Colonoscopies — covered at 100%
Annual physicals & bloodwork
Age-appropriate cancer screenings
$0 Virtual Care & Rx
Amaze Health + Rx Program
$0 Amaze Health virtual care
1,100+ medications at $0 cost
Blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid
35% off vitamins & supplements
Major Medical Sharing
After MRA — community covers
Hospitalization & surgery
Emergency room visits
Specialists & imaging
Any provider — no network lock

Important Notes

What you should know

Member Responsibility Amount (MRA)
The MRA is the amount a member must pay before eligible major medical expenses become eligible for sharing. Routine copays (Plan 1) do not count toward the MRA. Once your MRA is met, the community covers eligible expenses at 100%.
Pre-Existing Conditions — Not Everyone Will Qualify
Health sharing is not insurance and may not be a good fit for everyone in this age group. Pre-existing conditions may be excluded from sharing or subject to a waiting period. Members with significant ongoing health conditions should evaluate carefully with their agent before enrolling.
Your HSA Doesn't Stop Working When Medicare Starts
You can't contribute to an HSA once Medicare starts — but every dollar already saved spends tax-free on Medicare premiums, dental, vision, and long-term care. Build your balance now during the bridge years so you arrive at 65 with a tax-free reserve ready to go.
Waiting for Medicare — The Silver Lining
Some people with pre-existing conditions intentionally wait until Medicare starts for major elective procedures — and that's a perfectly valid strategy. This plan bridges your coverage in the meantime so you're protected for everything else without worrying about pre-existing exclusions derailing a planned surgery.

What's Included

Four components. One monthly contribution.

Every plan includes major medical sharing, $0 virtual care, zero-cost medications, and 100% preventive care — bundled together into one predictable monthly amount.

🩺
Health Sharing
Hospitalization, surgery, ER & maternity shared by the community after your MRA is met.
📱
Amaze Health
$0 virtual primary & urgent care from any device, anywhere. No waiting room.
💊
$0 Rx Program
1,100+ medications at no cost — birth control, hormones, blood pressure & more.
🌿
Preventive Care
100% ACA preventive care covered.

Two Ways to Structure Your Plan

Choose which Modern Healthcare plan fits your family best.

Both plans include the same core benefits. The difference is how you handle routine visits and whether you want to build an HSA tax strategy.

1
The Everyday Cooperative
Copay-based  |  Straightforward out-of-pocket costs
Best for families who want predictability. Higher monthly cost. Flat copays for visits — benefits work from day one, no deductible to meet first.
2
The Modern Advantage
HSA-compatible  |  Build savings & reduce taxes
Best for families who want to leverage tax savings. Lower contributions + an HSA that rolls over — and reduces taxable income.

Don't let the bridge years
drain your retirement.

Find out if a cooperative health benefit is the right fit for your situation — and what your contribution would look like.

EverTrust is a voluntary health sharing community, not insurance. Pre-existing conditions may be excluded. Not everyone will qualify. Sharing eligibility is subject to Member Guidelines.

Customizable Documents
PowerPoint PDF Version
SHSA Podcast
Medicare Bridge Overview
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