OP, thanks for your post. I found the info helpful (and eye opening). Sorry you got so many weirdly hostile comments (I guess no one should ever be allowed to retire?).

DH and I have pension-linked health insurance. It's around $1400/no right now, I think. But your post is making me think we will have to aggressively save in case it is much, much more by the time we retire (DH was planning on 60, and I was thinking 59).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Why not? We do that for those who come to the USA. Reciprocate

We don't have nearly free healthcare for foreigners who flounce in, whatever nonsense Fox News addled your brain with.

Have you heard of government run community clinics - they treat anyone who flounces in with no I.D.

THanks taxpayers and legal immigrants who have morals and values.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, how much is catastrophic insurance only or a HDHP? If you all are generally healthy I would think it would make sense to pay out of pocket unless there is a real medical emergency.

ACA killed off catastophic only policies for middle aged people.

Thanks Democrats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

That only happens in the U.S.

Anonymous wrote:What are you going to do when Obamacare totally collapses? We are on that path thanks to our lovely government.

Democrats didn't look too far passed the election of 2016.

They built it to collapse when Republicans held the power.


Nice, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

corporate employer health insurance do not have pre-existing clause

Before ACA this was NOT true.

Really? I worked at multiple different employers prior to ACA and none offered health insurance w pre-existing clause.

+1.

But hey, it's fun to blame Trump.

I remember the good ol' days under Obama when everyone made a million dollars, healthcare was free for everyone and college tuition was just $999 a year!

It's not so much Trump to blame (though he hasn't helped and is poised to blow it up) it's the Republican congress' strategy of "death by 1,000 cuts" since 2010.

There was absolutely a pre existing condition “waiting period” (usually twelve months before you could get treatment covered) if you had a “lapse in coverage” of more than 60 days, as in a period of unemployment or something like that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

corporate employer health insurance do not have pre-existing clause

Before ACA this was NOT true.

Really? I worked at multiple different employers prior to ACA and none offered health insurance w pre-existing clause.

+1.

But hey, it's fun to blame Trump.

I remember the good ol' days under Obama when everyone made a million dollars, healthcare was free for everyone and college tuition was just $999 a year!

It's not so much Trump to blame (though he hasn't helped and is poised to blow it up) it's the Republican congress' strategy of "death by 1,000 cuts" since 2010.

Anonymous wrote:We are also in our mid 40 and want to retire soon, still have kids in elementary and middle school. Any thoughts about moving to Canada, in terms of health care and education ?

I’m pretty sure you can’t just move to Canada and use their healthcare. Look at their immigration website and I think you will be surprised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are also in our mid 40 and want to retire soon, still have kids in elementary and middle school. Any thoughts about moving to Canada, in terms of health care and education ?

We are moving to Costa Rica. Why would anyone NOT retire early and leave this horrible health care situation.

So are you saying Americans can just move to Costa Rica and get residency and use the country’s health system?

Some commenters on here are ridiculously hostile.

Op, please ignore those. I don't understand screams "don't complain" - nowhere did OP complain, i read the initial post as an "fyi" for anyone considering early retirement, something to think about and consider. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much longer until your kids can get their own insurance? Are you 50s now or still in your mid 40s?

We are almost 50 now. It is essentially the only ppo. Kaiser is the other option.

Why not Kaiser? I have it and like it.

DP. I was told by two different doctors that the care for routine issues - a broken leg, strep throat, etc. - are fine, but they fall short when specialists are needed.

A friend of mine has a muscular disorder, and they won't pay for physical therapy.

We like Kaiser and have been using it for more than a decade, but it does not pay any therapy. Their mental health care is even worse. We had to pay out of pocket to get a decent therapist for anxiety, depression...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

But you can buy private health insurance which costs less than 10K per year (per person).

Anonymous wrote:We are also in our mid 40 and want to retire soon, still have kids in elementary and middle school. Any thoughts about moving to Canada, in terms of health care and education ?

We are moving to Costa Rica. Why would anyone NOT retire early and leave this horrible health care situation.

Sorry OP.

Due to health insurance and health care my dh and I will be working til we hit full social security benefits at 70. I'm glad some people are able to retire early!

The health insurance situation is crazy, and penalizes a lot of people.

Anonymous wrote:Op thanks for posting. Sorry you are dealing with some loser lunatics. We also can’t think about retiring early at this point due to health care costs. I appreciate the insight into yours.

Thanks!!