Obamacare Optimization in Early Retirement

by | Oct 12, 2015 | Finances, Health | 117 comments

Image-Affordable-Care-Act-logo-genericIn all likelihood, an early retiree in the United States is going to purchase ACA (Obamacare) compliant Health Insurance on the Federal or a State Health Insurance Marketplace.

Even though the ACA has provided common standards, Health Insurance is still a complex topic with numerous trade-offs. Coverage levels and premiums vary.  Every insurance company has a different approach to cost sharing.  Each State has a slightly different implementation, maybe a different website, and wildly different prices.

Subsidies may pay nearly all of your premium, or they may cover nothing.  It isn’t always clear which will apply until after the fact.  As a result, some will get an extra large tax bill at the end of the year, while others will pay too much each month.  They may even provide a disincentive to earn a higher income.

But much like the Income Tax, those who understand the the system can optimize their income and investments.  Knowledge is power.  Optimizing Obamacare starts with understanding the system.  Then we can make choices to minimize costs and maximize coverage.

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How Obamacare Saved Us From Extortion

by | Nov 14, 2013 | Finances, Health | 36 comments

Once upon a time, President Obama told the nation, “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it.”  Our insurance company recently sent us a letter informing us that because our policy did not comply with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, it will no longer be available.

We aren’t the only ones having our policy cancelled.  The conservative media is full of outrage over this, exclaiming “President Obama lied!”  I was confused when I saw it.  This is news?  I’m reminded of an old headline from The Onion satirical newspaper, “Politician Accidentally Tells Truth!”

The liberal media counters that policies are being cancelled only because they don’t meet the minimum standards demanded by the ACA, and therefore everybody who has had a policy cancelled will now get better coverage.

But here at Go Curry Cracker, we ignore the media hype, sensationalist headlines, and political ranting and just look at the facts.  Let’s do that now

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But… What about Health Insurance?!?!

by | Feb 19, 2013 | Finances, Health | 1 comment

Cost of Health Care“We have the results in from the chest X-ray. Please give us a call as soon as possible so we can discuss next steps.”  A call to my doctor informed me that I might have a growth on my heart.  “Or it could be an issue with the film, we can’t be sure.  The best thing to do right now is come in for another X-ray.” (more…)