In reply to Karacticus :
Congratulations!!!!
I've had a few friends retire in the past 2-3 years, and a couple others considering taking the plunge. I tell them all (sincerely) to get out and go have fun, don't worry about those of us stuck working. Life is too short. I don't know anyone that has retired TO something who regrets it. I get lunch with a former colleague every couple months, and the first time i saw him after retirement, he told me he spent the whole week working on his boat with a beer in hand and good tunes on the radio. He looked 20 years younger.
RX Reven' said:
To those that are out or are planning on being out before 65, what's your situation with health insurance...provider, cost, quality?
That is a bit of an unknown leap.
I may have some options available to me others do not should we decide health insurance is a benefit that my wife's business starts to offer.
We did some looking into it prior to the COVID hitting the fan and were considering taking steps. Cost was looking like 2-3 times what my contribution was for insurance with my (former) job, but the deductible was much, much lower than the rediculously high one of my employer's plan.
And how/whether/if policy terms and availability change in the future is anyone's guess-- potential flounders lie in that direction.
The best way to think about it is if you've paid off the house, just plan on making the same payments for health insurance.
Or, from the morbid side, retire while you're young enough to have a decent quality of life without needing health insurance, then die when you'd otherwise have needed it.
RX Reven' said:
To those that are out or are planning on being out before 65, what's your situation with health insurance...provider, cost, quality?
Honestly, that is one of the biggest questions. I'm kinda hoping it gets sorted out within the next decade, but I'm not holding my breath. Maybe hell will freeze over and I'll marry a younger woman who is still working and I can tag onto her plan. I think that is what one of my friends who retired at 60 did. In the meantime, I max out my HSA account so that if needed, I can buy a personal plan to fill the time gap before Medicare kicks in for me. Granted, cancer runs in my families so I give the chances of me actually making it to my goal of 60 at around 50%. I can see me being one of those types that'll go from "perfectly healthy" to "you have 6 months to live" with little warning.
I never imagined me retired, I like what I did but why not jump when you can? Congratulations! It took me a year to NOT wake up at 5:00 am.
DO NOT do what Mr. ________ did and write a lengthy two page list of grievances of how all you people are shinyhappypeople and email to "all".
He came back a year later as a contractor and needed those "people".
Have fun, this is why we worked. 
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:
RX Reven' said:
To those that are out or are planning on being out before 65, what's your situation with health insurance...provider, cost, quality?
Honestly, that is one of the biggest questions. I'm kinda hoping it gets sorted out within the next decade, but I'm not holding my breath. Maybe hell will freeze over and I'll marry a younger woman who is still working and I can tag onto her plan. I think that is what one of my friends who retired at 60 did. In the meantime, I max out my HSA account so that if needed, I can buy a personal plan to fill the time gap before Medicare kicks in for me. Granted, cancer runs in my families so I give the chances of me actually making it to my goal of 60 at around 50%. I can see me being one of those types that'll go from "perfectly healthy" to "you have 6 months to live" with little warning.
Doctor looks away from CT scan, turns to patient and slowly says "you have six"
Patient says "oh no, that's terrible, six what...six months, six years???
Doctor "5, 4, 3, 2..."
In reply to RX Reven' :
That was the main reason I stuck it out and retired from the National Guard. When I turn 60 my wife and I will get free to cheap health insurance.
In reply to Karacticus :
Congrats on the retirement, hope you live long and enjoy every minute.
My last work day was 14 days ago, officially off the clock four days ago, that's a great feeling. Never looked back.
