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The greatest expense for me in retirement is now health insurance so it makes sense for me to instead work for insurance coverage and put my wealth towards an i

The greatest expense for me in retirement is now health insurance so it makes sense for me to instead work for insurance coverage and put my wealth towards an inheritance for my children. I used to naively believe once I paid off my mortgage, had a substantial retirement account and savings - a couple million dollars - I'd no longer work. It's also very difficult to get off of the treadmill of spending a lot of money on products and services - requires a massive life change I haven't been ready to perform. It helps that I love to write software; I'd just continue writing software in retirement. I tried to retire once and I ended up writing software anyway, so might as well as get health insurance coverage.

neogodless 5y ago
To avoid repeating myself, I'll link a reply to a sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28062162 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28062162 The gist is that lowering your other expenses and qualifying for ACA could dramatically lower your health insurance expenses as well.
kache_ 5y ago
My plan is: - Move to America, become rich - Move back to Canada, retire - Win :P
- xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
  Just an FYI that if you avoid permanent US residency via green card or US citizenship you can potentially take advantage of a step-up of the cost basis of ALL your taxable assets when you move back to Canada, thus erasing any tax on the capital gains -- both short and long term. (In Canada, there is no distinction of short or long term gains). Assuming that you have little-to-no Canadian assets now, dispose of everything at no-to-low cost when you leave, move to the US for a decade or so and rack up a lot of RSUs/exercised options, maybe surviving an IPO or two, while enjoying a strong USD, you can move back comically wealthy compared to your peers. You may or may not have to toy with your employer's immigration lawyers as they scramble to get you a green card while you avoid filing any paperwork. (This is not financial advice, contact a licensed professional, tell your friends, etc.)
  - jleyank 5y ago
    If you’re Canadian, can’t you work on a TN visa? Thought this was renewable multiple times and had no credit for immigration…
    - xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
      (This post is not legal advice, consult an immigration lawyer, etc.) Yes and no. TN is technically only for specific professions drafted in like the 80s or something. It's incredibly stupid. For example, many Canadians use "Computer Systems Analyst" for their TN which explicitly forbids programming, as a programmer is not considered a professional job in the eyes of NAFTA. It's bananas. If you don't have a decent secondary education with a recognized degree, you're likely out of luck. And while yes, you can effectively ride TN status forever, it has a lot of downsides. For one, it's not portable, so you have to restart the process if you switch employers. In theory you can't even seek employment while on a TN. Two, the customs agent letting you into the US can decide at their leisure whether or not you qualify. It's rare but I know of a few instances of people getting rejected for no real reason. If they think you are abusing it, they will reject you, etc. If you lose your job for whatever reason, you have to leave ASAP. There is not much peace-of-mind with TN status. Compare to an H-1B, which confers a ton of benefits, like a straightforward path to a green card (also possible with a TN but a lot of lawyers are less comfortable), easy to switch employers, your employer must pay for everything, if you're fired your employer has to pay for your travel, there is a lengthy grace period where you can be unemployed to either find work or wrap up your affairs, you can stay in the country while waiting for approval, etc. It's a million times better than TN. Attorneys probably also dislike TN status because they really are not necessary. The applicant, not the company, must pay the application fee. In theory you don't need lawyers at all, but it is pretty useful for them to prepare the documents and cover letter for you. Get your ducks in a row, etc. Most Canadians I meet in the US who are on TN status or H-1B visas are, at least initially, on the path to a green card. Most half-decent employers who are willing to sponsor want to put you on that path anyways, since it ensures your position is not going to evaporate because you were denied at the border or something. Most people on non-immigrant or immigrant-status visas want a green card anyways, so it is sort of the default path. Lastly, most folks do not know about the downsides of a green card, such as the frustratingly complex tax burden if you are abroad, that it expires if you leave for ~5 years, etc.
marktangotango 5y ago
This is the reality of the situation; until you're eligible for (edit) medicare, health is a significant expense. When paired with the "hedonistic treadmill" of spending, early retirement takes a lot more investment than many suspect. Even at a safe withdrawal rate of 4%, $2M is "only" $80k a year. You're not driving around in Ferrari's and eating caviar on that (parodying a rich lifestyle here). Of course there are levels, and one could live modestly in a LCOL area on that, but that's not what most people have in mind. Particularly for a "millionaire".
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  Medicare. To be eligible for Medicaid, you have to be quite lacking in assets.
  - xythian 5y ago
    Silver hair? Medicare. Need some aid? Medicaid.
    - beervirus 5y ago
      Good mnemonic. I can never remember which is which.
- snek_case 5y ago
  I feel like I'd be happy enough just maintaining my current lifestyle more or less, but yes, we as software developers tend to be paid relatively well, so just matching that can be quite expensive. I also feel kind of uncomfortable with the idea of retiring without a little bit of extra safety margin in case of economic turmoil. If 2M is enough to retire, I'd probably want 2.5 just to be extra safe. My current job pays well but is very stressful, and that had me thinking more about FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), but then I realized that on anything less than 120K a year (also have a mortgage to pay), I couldn't afford the therapist I'm seeing right now, and I'd be on the hook for dental cleaning, every other expense. My current plan is to save enough that I could technically almost retire on it, and then start prioritizing low stress jobs over income. Let the nest egg grow on its own even if I don't contribute as much with a lower paying job, and still get some benefits.
arenaninja 5y ago
This is why I max out my HSA and don't withdraw since it became available to me (unfortunately this was until my 30s) Have you considered moving to a country with quality healthcare at cheaper price? Mexico comes to mind
- city41 5y ago
  In case you're not aware, you can't use HSA funds to pay for insurance.
  - arenaninja 5y ago
    I'm aware you can't pay premiums but you can still use it to pay services, prescriptions, deductible, co-insurance, etc.
- jorblumesea 5y ago
  All this does is avoid taxes on the exorbitant amount you're paying. It doesn't make the American healthcare system significantly cheaper. Also, HSA cannot be used to pay for insurance premiums.
  - arenaninja 5y ago
    oh I agree the issue is systemic and I'd love to see Medicare for all or similar. But I don't think the agents of change are moving fast enough to affect my retirement It would be interesting to have Medicare age gradually lowered to ~26, but I have not seen this floated around as a possibility
flowerlad 5y ago
> The greatest expense for me in retirement is now health insurance Obamacare changes that. If you don't have much income you get ACA federal tax credits.
- handrous 5y ago
  ACA plans in my state expose you to over $20,000 in annual risk, for a family plan. That's assuming you don't end up with a huge "out of network" bill by accident (and their networks are terrible, so that's very possible). I think the "gold" plan is a little better (though a much worse deal if you're having to pay the full premium, overall) but I'm not sure how much income-based help you get for the top-tier (and still quite bad, compared to group plans at employers around here) plan.
  - flowerlad 5y ago
    Not sure what you mean by "annual risk". Do you mean out-of-pocket costs? > That's assuming you don't end up with a huge "out of network" bill by accident New laws mostly take care of that. No more out-of-network doctors walking by your hospital bed while you're sleeping and sending you a $5000 bill. Also if you have an emergency while out of state your insurance takes care of it. The "metal" plans all have the same network. The only difference is how much you pay vs. insurance.
    - handrous 5y ago
      > Not sure what you mean by "annual risk". Do you mean out-of-pocket costs? Yeah, max out-of-pocket per year. Something like ~$24,000 family / $12,000 individual on our ACA plans. Gold and Silver ACA plans are basically identical in this state, you're just guaranteeing you pay more in premiums with Gold (so, in a bad year, the totals work out about the same, but in a good year the Gold is more expensive). We have exactly two ACA plan providers here, and their plans are nearly identical except that they have very different (both terrible) networks. So if you get cancer you'll be paying $12,000/yr, on top of premiums (another $20,000 or so, for a family silver plan, if you're not getting assistance) until you're cured or you're dead. Two people get very sick, about $24,000 per year that they remain very sick, on top of premiums.
occz 5y ago
I wonder if this fact makes it easier to attain some form of early retirement in countries with more extensive public health care. I guess it would have to be weighed against the (assuming here without numbers) higher earning potential/lower taxes in the U.S.
cyberlurker 5y ago
Do people in countries with universal healthcare not have this problem? What are the types of products and services that are so significant? Surely we aren’t talking about things like Netflix and utilities?
- MattGaiser 5y ago
  Depends on what is covered under universal health care. In Canada, doctors and hospitals are covered. But if you need a lot of drugs, you might need to keep working. You also need to budget for dental and vision, as those are also tied to employment agreements.
  - SamuelAdams 5y ago
    I'm curious about Canada. My plan is to make a lot of money in the states and retire early, then apply for Canadian citizenship and move to Canada to cover health expenses. Even if the citizenship process takes 2-4 years, would this be worth it?
    - cgh 5y ago
      Canada’s immigration process is based on a points system. If you are not working, don’t speak French or are over a certain age, then I wouldn’t rate your chances too highly. The reason is the “move to Canada to cover health expenses” part. If you have never paid into the system via taxes by working and living here, then why would we want you?
    - MattGaiser 5y ago
      The older you get and not working make it a lot harder, as many people have your plan. So if you want to do that, come to Canada before you retire and having a job here will help you get in.
    - kilroy123 5y ago
      That won't be easy unless you marry a Canadian citizen. That's what my cousin did and now he's a citizen after all these years.
globular-toast 5y ago
> It's also very difficult to get off of the treadmill of spending a lot of money on products and services - requires a massive life change I haven't been ready to perform. You should just factor this into your living costs. As long as you aim for the right fraction of your earnings to go into savings rather than an absolute amount, you'll be fine.
rubicon33 5y ago
As a mid-30s software developer who is trying to save as much as possible, with the hopes of retiring before I'm old and deprecate, this really sucks to read. $2 million in investments AND a payed off mortgage and still, it doesn't pencil out to retire? Seems like over the past decade+ the 'value' of even $1 million has become more and more diluted. To support even just a middle class, to upper middle class lifestyle, can get very expensive.
- beervirus 5y ago
  Inflation is very real, and it’s most apparent in home values right now. Even if you pay off your mortgage, your property taxes keep going up as values increase.
  - brianwawok 5y ago
    If your property taxes are indexed to assessed value (which mine are), it also means your property value is going up. So double taxes would mean double value of home. It just means that at some point you may need to sell your home and downsize, pocketing a nice profit on the way out.
    - beervirus 5y ago
      Unless prices fall in the future, in which case you’ve paid a lot in taxes every year and never get any benefit from the temporarily high valuation.
      - brianwawok 5y ago
        Very true
  - dasil003 5y ago
    I agree with you in general, although I think the home prices probably overstate the case given the huge value transfer from commercial to residential real estate for work-from-home purposes. Not that I think we'll go back to anything like the pre-pandemic distribution, but it'll be interesting to see where it nets out when the dust settles in 4-5 years.
SavantIdiot 5y ago
Sounds like you're where I'll be in a few years. I figured the "treadmill of spending" would be the hardest part. At the end of every year I look at my expenses and say to myself, "Well, I wouldn't have gone out to eat twice a week and taken four vacations and bought that new mountain bike if I was retired." Every year there's about $10-20k of spending that I naively try to convince myself "I wouldn't do if I was retired" but hearing you say it makes me realize I'm full of BS. Thanks for the reassurance. :) I've been writing software for 40 years, for fun and profit, I'm about 100% sure I'll never stop, so like you I'd like to monetize it as long as possible.
simonh 5y ago
Once you have kids the calculation changes, at least for me. I could retire comfortably in a few years, but my earning power is at it's peak. Every extra year I work provides significant extra resources for my family, to help the girls afford their first houses and get a good start in life when they graduate. I'll probably work another 5 years beyond what I'd probably do if it was purely about self-interest for myself and my wife. I'm lucky that I enjoy my work, so it's not a massive sacrifice, but I do enjoy my leisure activities more. I'm really looking forward to being able to go somewhere interesting in the world with the missus and just stay there for 6 months. Also I'm a Brit here in the UK so health care is just not really an issue.
- mlcrypto 5y ago
  Why can't your kids work for their own house? It builds character. My mom told me I had to get a scholarship if I wanted my college paid, so I got one. Nobody is going to hand me a house either so I sought (and received) exceptional return in Bitcoin
  - voidfunc 5y ago
    So you got lucky on a crypto-gamble and you think your situation applies to everyone? Help could mean a lot of things... it could mean $20K towards their down payment all the way up to buying the damn thing, the poster didn't really clarify. This whole "builds character" thing is a bunch of bullshit that people spout off to poo-poo those that have a leg up in life.
    - mlcrypto 5y ago
      Its not a gamble. It's a sure thing that only people with the right mix of technical knowledge and Austrian economics can see
      - daptaq 5y ago
        Could you describe what you saw?
Bostonian 5y ago
I know of people who have enrolled in community college to be able to purchase health insurance at student rates, which are relatively low.
granshaw 5y ago
Have you tried to get a < 40 hrs/wk full-time job, to get the benefits but do less hours? If so, how has that been?
hintymad 5y ago
Why is health insurance is a concern for early retirement? The platinum option of obamacare costs about $35K a year? Is it because the 10% copay can still mount to a huge expenditure because the healthcare in the US costs too much?
- magneticnorth 5y ago
  $35k a year is a lot if you don't have any income - at a 4% withdrawal rate that requires an additional $875k in savings to cover, and at most incomes it takes many years to save up that much (plus obviously all the years you work to save 1.5M for your $60k/year or whatever in living expenses). There is also the fact of a 10% or however much copay, which will be a lot over time if you get a chronic illness (which would also reduce your ability to go back to work). Additionally, most people expect healthcare costs to rise with age, so will want a buffer on top of what healthcare currently costs to cover future bigger expenses.

neogodless 5y ago

To avoid repeating myself, I'll link a reply to a sibling comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28062162 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28062162 The gist is that lowering your other expenses and qualifying for ACA could dramatically lower your health insurance expenses as well.

kache_ 5y ago

My plan is: - Move to America, become rich - Move back to Canada, retire - Win :P

xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
Just an FYI that if you avoid permanent US residency via green card or US citizenship you can potentially take advantage of a step-up of the cost basis of ALL your taxable assets when you move back to Canada, thus erasing any tax on the capital gains -- both short and long term. (In Canada, there is no distinction of short or long term gains). Assuming that you have little-to-no Canadian assets now, dispose of everything at no-to-low cost when you leave, move to the US for a decade or so and rack up a lot of RSUs/exercised options, maybe surviving an IPO or two, while enjoying a strong USD, you can move back comically wealthy compared to your peers. You may or may not have to toy with your employer's immigration lawyers as they scramble to get you a green card while you avoid filing any paperwork. (This is not financial advice, contact a licensed professional, tell your friends, etc.)
- jleyank 5y ago
  If you’re Canadian, can’t you work on a TN visa? Thought this was renewable multiple times and had no credit for immigration…
  - xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
    (This post is not legal advice, consult an immigration lawyer, etc.) Yes and no. TN is technically only for specific professions drafted in like the 80s or something. It's incredibly stupid. For example, many Canadians use "Computer Systems Analyst" for their TN which explicitly forbids programming, as a programmer is not considered a professional job in the eyes of NAFTA. It's bananas. If you don't have a decent secondary education with a recognized degree, you're likely out of luck. And while yes, you can effectively ride TN status forever, it has a lot of downsides. For one, it's not portable, so you have to restart the process if you switch employers. In theory you can't even seek employment while on a TN. Two, the customs agent letting you into the US can decide at their leisure whether or not you qualify. It's rare but I know of a few instances of people getting rejected for no real reason. If they think you are abusing it, they will reject you, etc. If you lose your job for whatever reason, you have to leave ASAP. There is not much peace-of-mind with TN status. Compare to an H-1B, which confers a ton of benefits, like a straightforward path to a green card (also possible with a TN but a lot of lawyers are less comfortable), easy to switch employers, your employer must pay for everything, if you're fired your employer has to pay for your travel, there is a lengthy grace period where you can be unemployed to either find work or wrap up your affairs, you can stay in the country while waiting for approval, etc. It's a million times better than TN. Attorneys probably also dislike TN status because they really are not necessary. The applicant, not the company, must pay the application fee. In theory you don't need lawyers at all, but it is pretty useful for them to prepare the documents and cover letter for you. Get your ducks in a row, etc. Most Canadians I meet in the US who are on TN status or H-1B visas are, at least initially, on the path to a green card. Most half-decent employers who are willing to sponsor want to put you on that path anyways, since it ensures your position is not going to evaporate because you were denied at the border or something. Most people on non-immigrant or immigrant-status visas want a green card anyways, so it is sort of the default path. Lastly, most folks do not know about the downsides of a green card, such as the frustratingly complex tax burden if you are abroad, that it expires if you leave for ~5 years, etc.

marktangotango 5y ago

This is the reality of the situation; until you're eligible for (edit) medicare, health is a significant expense. When paired with the "hedonistic treadmill" of spending, early retirement takes a lot more investment than many suspect. Even at a safe withdrawal rate of 4%, $2M is "only" $80k a year. You're not driving around in Ferrari's and eating caviar on that (parodying a rich lifestyle here). Of course there are levels, and one could live modestly in a LCOL area on that, but that's not what most people have in mind. Particularly for a "millionaire".

lotsofpulp 5y ago
Medicare. To be eligible for Medicaid, you have to be quite lacking in assets.
- xythian 5y ago
  Silver hair? Medicare. Need some aid? Medicaid.
  - beervirus 5y ago
    Good mnemonic. I can never remember which is which.
snek_case 5y ago
I feel like I'd be happy enough just maintaining my current lifestyle more or less, but yes, we as software developers tend to be paid relatively well, so just matching that can be quite expensive. I also feel kind of uncomfortable with the idea of retiring without a little bit of extra safety margin in case of economic turmoil. If 2M is enough to retire, I'd probably want 2.5 just to be extra safe. My current job pays well but is very stressful, and that had me thinking more about FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), but then I realized that on anything less than 120K a year (also have a mortgage to pay), I couldn't afford the therapist I'm seeing right now, and I'd be on the hook for dental cleaning, every other expense. My current plan is to save enough that I could technically almost retire on it, and then start prioritizing low stress jobs over income. Let the nest egg grow on its own even if I don't contribute as much with a lower paying job, and still get some benefits.

arenaninja 5y ago

This is why I max out my HSA and don't withdraw since it became available to me (unfortunately this was until my 30s) Have you considered moving to a country with quality healthcare at cheaper price? Mexico comes to mind

city41 5y ago
In case you're not aware, you can't use HSA funds to pay for insurance.
- arenaninja 5y ago
  I'm aware you can't pay premiums but you can still use it to pay services, prescriptions, deductible, co-insurance, etc.
jorblumesea 5y ago
All this does is avoid taxes on the exorbitant amount you're paying. It doesn't make the American healthcare system significantly cheaper. Also, HSA cannot be used to pay for insurance premiums.
- arenaninja 5y ago
  oh I agree the issue is systemic and I'd love to see Medicare for all or similar. But I don't think the agents of change are moving fast enough to affect my retirement It would be interesting to have Medicare age gradually lowered to ~26, but I have not seen this floated around as a possibility

flowerlad 5y ago

> The greatest expense for me in retirement is now health insurance Obamacare changes that. If you don't have much income you get ACA federal tax credits.

handrous 5y ago
ACA plans in my state expose you to over $20,000 in annual risk, for a family plan. That's assuming you don't end up with a huge "out of network" bill by accident (and their networks are terrible, so that's very possible). I think the "gold" plan is a little better (though a much worse deal if you're having to pay the full premium, overall) but I'm not sure how much income-based help you get for the top-tier (and still quite bad, compared to group plans at employers around here) plan.
- flowerlad 5y ago
  Not sure what you mean by "annual risk". Do you mean out-of-pocket costs? > That's assuming you don't end up with a huge "out of network" bill by accident New laws mostly take care of that. No more out-of-network doctors walking by your hospital bed while you're sleeping and sending you a $5000 bill. Also if you have an emergency while out of state your insurance takes care of it. The "metal" plans all have the same network. The only difference is how much you pay vs. insurance.
  - handrous 5y ago
    > Not sure what you mean by "annual risk". Do you mean out-of-pocket costs? Yeah, max out-of-pocket per year. Something like ~$24,000 family / $12,000 individual on our ACA plans. Gold and Silver ACA plans are basically identical in this state, you're just guaranteeing you pay more in premiums with Gold (so, in a bad year, the totals work out about the same, but in a good year the Gold is more expensive). We have exactly two ACA plan providers here, and their plans are nearly identical except that they have very different (both terrible) networks. So if you get cancer you'll be paying $12,000/yr, on top of premiums (another $20,000 or so, for a family silver plan, if you're not getting assistance) until you're cured or you're dead. Two people get very sick, about $24,000 per year that they remain very sick, on top of premiums.

occz 5y ago

I wonder if this fact makes it easier to attain some form of early retirement in countries with more extensive public health care. I guess it would have to be weighed against the (assuming here without numbers) higher earning potential/lower taxes in the U.S.

cyberlurker 5y ago

Do people in countries with universal healthcare not have this problem? What are the types of products and services that are so significant? Surely we aren’t talking about things like Netflix and utilities?

MattGaiser 5y ago
Depends on what is covered under universal health care. In Canada, doctors and hospitals are covered. But if you need a lot of drugs, you might need to keep working. You also need to budget for dental and vision, as those are also tied to employment agreements.
- SamuelAdams 5y ago
  I'm curious about Canada. My plan is to make a lot of money in the states and retire early, then apply for Canadian citizenship and move to Canada to cover health expenses. Even if the citizenship process takes 2-4 years, would this be worth it?
  - cgh 5y ago
    Canada’s immigration process is based on a points system. If you are not working, don’t speak French or are over a certain age, then I wouldn’t rate your chances too highly. The reason is the “move to Canada to cover health expenses” part. If you have never paid into the system via taxes by working and living here, then why would we want you?
  - MattGaiser 5y ago
    The older you get and not working make it a lot harder, as many people have your plan. So if you want to do that, come to Canada before you retire and having a job here will help you get in.
  - kilroy123 5y ago
    That won't be easy unless you marry a Canadian citizen. That's what my cousin did and now he's a citizen after all these years.

globular-toast 5y ago

> It's also very difficult to get off of the treadmill of spending a lot of money on products and services - requires a massive life change I haven't been ready to perform. You should just factor this into your living costs. As long as you aim for the right fraction of your earnings to go into savings rather than an absolute amount, you'll be fine.

rubicon33 5y ago

As a mid-30s software developer who is trying to save as much as possible, with the hopes of retiring before I'm old and deprecate, this really sucks to read. $2 million in investments AND a payed off mortgage and still, it doesn't pencil out to retire? Seems like over the past decade+ the 'value' of even $1 million has become more and more diluted. To support even just a middle class, to upper middle class lifestyle, can get very expensive.

beervirus 5y ago
Inflation is very real, and it’s most apparent in home values right now. Even if you pay off your mortgage, your property taxes keep going up as values increase.
- brianwawok 5y ago
  If your property taxes are indexed to assessed value (which mine are), it also means your property value is going up. So double taxes would mean double value of home. It just means that at some point you may need to sell your home and downsize, pocketing a nice profit on the way out.
  - beervirus 5y ago
    Unless prices fall in the future, in which case you’ve paid a lot in taxes every year and never get any benefit from the temporarily high valuation.
    - brianwawok 5y ago
      Very true
- dasil003 5y ago
  I agree with you in general, although I think the home prices probably overstate the case given the huge value transfer from commercial to residential real estate for work-from-home purposes. Not that I think we'll go back to anything like the pre-pandemic distribution, but it'll be interesting to see where it nets out when the dust settles in 4-5 years.

SavantIdiot 5y ago

Sounds like you're where I'll be in a few years. I figured the "treadmill of spending" would be the hardest part. At the end of every year I look at my expenses and say to myself, "Well, I wouldn't have gone out to eat twice a week and taken four vacations and bought that new mountain bike if I was retired." Every year there's about $10-20k of spending that I naively try to convince myself "I wouldn't do if I was retired" but hearing you say it makes me realize I'm full of BS. Thanks for the reassurance. :) I've been writing software for 40 years, for fun and profit, I'm about 100% sure I'll never stop, so like you I'd like to monetize it as long as possible.

simonh 5y ago

Once you have kids the calculation changes, at least for me. I could retire comfortably in a few years, but my earning power is at it's peak. Every extra year I work provides significant extra resources for my family, to help the girls afford their first houses and get a good start in life when they graduate. I'll probably work another 5 years beyond what I'd probably do if it was purely about self-interest for myself and my wife. I'm lucky that I enjoy my work, so it's not a massive sacrifice, but I do enjoy my leisure activities more. I'm really looking forward to being able to go somewhere interesting in the world with the missus and just stay there for 6 months. Also I'm a Brit here in the UK so health care is just not really an issue.

mlcrypto 5y ago
Why can't your kids work for their own house? It builds character. My mom told me I had to get a scholarship if I wanted my college paid, so I got one. Nobody is going to hand me a house either so I sought (and received) exceptional return in Bitcoin
- voidfunc 5y ago
  So you got lucky on a crypto-gamble and you think your situation applies to everyone? Help could mean a lot of things... it could mean $20K towards their down payment all the way up to buying the damn thing, the poster didn't really clarify. This whole "builds character" thing is a bunch of bullshit that people spout off to poo-poo those that have a leg up in life.
  - mlcrypto 5y ago
    Its not a gamble. It's a sure thing that only people with the right mix of technical knowledge and Austrian economics can see
    - daptaq 5y ago
      Could you describe what you saw?

Bostonian 5y ago

I know of people who have enrolled in community college to be able to purchase health insurance at student rates, which are relatively low.

granshaw 5y ago

Have you tried to get a < 40 hrs/wk full-time job, to get the benefits but do less hours? If so, how has that been?

hintymad 5y ago

Why is health insurance is a concern for early retirement? The platinum option of obamacare costs about $35K a year? Is it because the 10% copay can still mount to a huge expenditure because the healthcare in the US costs too much?

magneticnorth 5y ago
$35k a year is a lot if you don't have any income - at a 4% withdrawal rate that requires an additional $875k in savings to cover, and at most incomes it takes many years to save up that much (plus obviously all the years you work to save 1.5M for your $60k/year or whatever in living expenses). There is also the fact of a 10% or however much copay, which will be a lot over time if you get a chronic illness (which would also reduce your ability to go back to work). Additionally, most people expect healthcare costs to rise with age, so will want a buffer on top of what healthcare currently costs to cover future bigger expenses.