8 Best Part-Time Jobs for Retirees Who Need Health Insurance

Not all companies offer health insurance options to part-time employees, and benefits and eligibility requirements vary from one company to the next. 

In most cases, retirees don’t qualify for Medicare until age 65, and purchasing health insurance plans elsewhere can be costly. 

Here are some employers worth considering if you're planning to retire but still want to work part-time for health insurance coverage.

Starbucks might be known for its high-end coffee, but the company offers much more to employees. 

Part-time employees are eligible for health insurance benefits on the “first day of the second month after receiving at least 240 total hours over three full, consecutive months.”

But that’s not all. Part-time employees are eligible for other perks, too. For example, eligible part-time Starbucks employees can earn stock equity, receive a 30% company discount, and take home a free bag of coffee every week.

Trader Joe’s offers health insurance options to eligible part-time employees. To be eligible for medical coverage, employees must work an average of at least 28 hours per week.

Trader Joe’s employees reportedly pay some of the cheapest health insurance premiums. One employee commented on Reddit that health insurance costs less than $45 per pay cycle. 

And Trader Joe’s reports that some employees pay as little as $25 per month for medical coverage.

Part-time and temporary Walmart associates who work an average of 30 hours or more per week over a “60-day measurement period will become eligible for benefits.”

Eligible benefits include medical, dental, vision, AD&D (accidental death and dismemberment), critical illness insurance, and accident insurance.

If you don’t meet Walmart’s minimum hours requirement for medical benefits eligibility, you may still become eligible for other benefits after working at Walmart for 52 weeks.

UPS might be one of the best places for early retirees to work. The company offers the same health insurance benefits to both part-time and full-time employees.

The best part is that there are no premiums. UPS states that there is no co-insurance through employer-sponsored plans, either, and co-pays are low, too.

UPS even offers part-time employees pensions. According to the company, part-time employees average $20 per hour after their first 20 days with the company.

Retirees working part-time at Costco receive 80% coverage for insurance premiums. While that’s less than the 90% coverage full-time employees receive, it’s still a great deal compared to most companies.

Costco also guarantees “minimum scheduled hours” for full-time and part-time employees and posts weekly schedules at least two weeks in advance. This means retirees won’t have to cancel plans at the last minute because they have to work.

Lowe’s offers medical, dental, and vision coverage to full-time and part-time employees. All employees are eligible for off-the-job accident insurance “on the first day of the month after 30 days of continuous employment.”

Part-time Lowe’s employees are also eligible to participate in the company’s 401(k) plan and qualify for $20,000 of life insurance coverage. Other perks include critical illness insurance and discounted stock options.

Amazon offers a wide range of benefits to its part-time employees. Unlike many companies on this list, retirees (and workers of all ages) only need to work a minimum of 20 hours per week to maintain eligibility.

A few of the most popular benefits Amazon offers are medical, dental, and vision insurance, participation in the company’s 401(k) plan, life insurance, and PTO (paid time off). Employees also receive an Amazon Prime discount.

Staples offers its part-time employees “limited” medical benefits. Part-time workers are eligible for other perks, too, including vision, dental, and life insurance coverage. For example, U.S. employees may be eligible for property and pet insurance benefits.

Staples might be a better option if you decide to return to work full-time. The company offers full-time employees more expansive medical, dental, and vision coverage. A few other perks offered only to full-time employees include wellness reimbursement and PTO.

Even when Medicare does kick in, it doesn’t cover everything. If you’re considering a part-time job, choosing one that offers health insurance is probably a smart idea.

Having affordable health insurance that meets your needs can help you maintain a stress-free retirement. However, it’s important to research and see if an employer-sponsored plan is cost-effective.

Retirees might find cheaper premiums by purchasing insurance through HealthCare.gov. Plus, not all health care plans cover the same services, and out-of-pocket costs can differ from one plan to the next.