If you or your spouse are over age 50, in addition to the complex health insurance issues covered in our four past columns, you should be sure to inform yourself about other important, yet intricate, questions: The effect of retirement on employer-sponsored health plans, Medicare, Medigap and long-term care.

With rising health care costs, many employers are either scaling back or terminating coverage. So first find out if your employer has a retiree health program for employees and dependents. If so, what is the likelihood that this benefit will be continued in its present form or continued at all?

Because of the unpredictability of coverage parameters and premium costs, we do not believe it is a good idea for an employee spouse to agree to pay premiums for a former spouse or to guarantee coverage. For example, if an employee agrees to pay premiums that are $250 per month today, there is no guarantee that those same premiums might not be $500 per month in two years. And an agreement to provide coverage may be problematical if the employer ceases coverage and the former spouse has health problems.

Make sure you understand how your available retiree plan will coordinate with Medicare, the federal government’s health insurance program for those of us who have reached age 65 or have been disabled for more than two years. In reviewing Medicare benefits, you will find a number of coverage gaps when it comes to deductibles and co-payment of hospital, doctor’s, and some nursing home bills. That’s why Medigap also called Medicare Supplement policies are so important to those who are 65 and older. Be sure to understand what you are purchasing and its suitability to you and your circumstances.

Contrary to popular belief, the cost of nursing home care is, for the most part, not covered by major medical, Medicare, or Medigap insurance. Special coverage called long-term care insurance can provide various types of coverage described in the policy. While we believe that long-term care insurance is necessary for the majority of people over age 50, you should make sure that you understand what you are purchasing before you buy.

Because 40 percent of our population will spend time in a nursing home, we believe that long-term care insurance coverage should be considered an integral part of marital settlement agreements. In some instances, for example, long-term care coverage can be used as a substitute for alimony if a dependent spouse needs this type of care. And the younger the individual, the less the coverage will cost.

Be sure to keep copies of every health insurance-related document you sign. When you send time-sensitive forms, use UPS, Federal Express, or certified mail so you will have signed proof that your package was received on a timely basis.

And make sure that you are attuned to these important issues as early in the divorce process as possible. Since the laws of each state are different, employer plans may vary, and each person’s circumstances are different, there may be questions that relate to you that we have not covered. That’s why it’s a good idea not to act without the assistance of a qualified insurance professional and your lawyer.