OT - Healthcare - You definitely have to watch your step with the current system.
"even my property taxes are adjusted based on it." My mother kept telling me that she could get reduced
property taxes because her income was so low. She was nowhere near getting a break. $17,000 maximum
yearly income.
I would recommend that anyone retiring not depend on getting "free" healthcare. Better to have the money
back and not need it than need it and not have it. It is all out of our control.
Our current situation is an example. We can still come in with income below the $65,000 cut off. While costs
of plans have gone up, our subsidy has gone from $3,000, to $2300 a month. I imagine it has to do with
Pennsylvania. I looked around a little and didn't find a reason, and in the end it is what it is anyway.
Another surprise may be that the cost is the same even if one spouse goes on medicare. I'm eligible Jan.
2020. Checked out what it would cost for eleven months until the wife is eligible. Exactly the same.
At first glance, I was ready to go with our same gold policy at $740 a month. Everyone/thing we need is
in network as opposed to a $420 premium for a different plan with the same specs, but with a different
network where our providers are not covered.
Now, I am tossing around essentially self insuring with a free bronze plan. If something catastrophic
happens, the max out of pocket are the same. With no insurance, we would have spent less last year than
what the yearly premium would be keeping the same plan.
Decisions, decisions. Little guy on my left shoulder saying that the premium is not a problem. That is why
we saved the money, and we get peace of mind. Little guy on my right shoulder saying that if worse comes
to worst, the max out of pocket isn't a problem, and odds are that we save money self insuring. I've got a
month to think about it. |
