What should I know about retiring at 62?
Mia Ramsey
Published Feb 25, 2026
If you’re thinking of retiring at age 62, you should know that if you go that route, you’ll need to figure out health coverage. That’s because Medicare eligibility doesn’t begin until age 65. Now you may be thinking you’ll fall back on COBRA so you can retain your employer health coverage.
Is it better to retire at 66 or 65?
The fact that you’ll get your full Social Security payment at age 66 can make a huge difference, especially if you’re relatively healthy and likely to have an average, or longer-than-average, retirement. Waiting also gives you a few extra years to shore up your tax-advantaged investment accounts.
When do you get Medicare if you retire at 62?
Medicare benefits don’t start until you turn 65. If you retire at 62 you’ll need to make sure you can afford adequate health insurance coverage until age 65 when your Medicare benefits begin. 5 The exception to this rule is beneficiaries who have a disability.
Can you self insure if you retire at 62?
If you are retiring at 62 or before — or any time before Medicare eligibility at 65 and are really left with no other options, you can always self-insure, explains Purkat. “Unfortunately, this can be the most expensive option,” he says.
Is the age of 62 an important age?
Age 62 may not seem like an important milestone, but if that’s the age you’ll be reaching this year, it could actually be a pivotal point on the way to retirement — or perhaps even the year you choose to bring your career to a close. Here are a few things to know if you’re turning 62 in 2021. 1.
How long does it take to adjust to retirement?
“I tell new retirees that it can take a year or two to adjust to retirement and really know what you will spend on average ,” says Cheryl Sherrard of Clearview Wealth Management in Charlotte, NC, “and you need to know what your retirement income can support, even in bad market years.”
Is it better to retire at the beginning or end of the year?
By retiring at the beginning of a year you will receive your leave payout in a year of potentially less income, thus minimizing the taxation of the payout. (practically though, taxes are withheld the same way they were while you were at work, so the true tax benefit won’t even be realized until you file taxes the subsequent year.)