Anybody Else Getting Hammered by ACA Insurance?

[Fishindude77]

Just renewed my spouse's ACA health insurance for 2026. Cost this year is $1,110 / per month, $13k annually.
We knew health insurance was going to be a large, expensive factor in early retirement and were fortunate to have saved and prepared for it but it still stings.

Our agent told us quite a few of her clients have just completely dropped their health insurance and taking their chances without.

If you are planning to retire pre Medicare age, have a plan for health insurance.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Just renewed my spouse's ACA health insurance for 2026. Cost this year is $1,110 / per month, $13k annually.
We knew health insurance was going to be a large, expensive factor in early retirement and were fortunate to have saved and prepared for it but it still stings.

Our agent told us quite a few of her clients have just completely dropped their health insurance and taking their chances without.

If you are planning to retire pre Medicare age, have a plan for health insurance.

how many years are you doing aca pre medicare? I am budgeting at least $50-60k for our family of 4

[disneysteve]

Our premium for 2026 is $880/month more than our premium for 2025. That's an extra $10,500. In case that isn't bad enough, we dropped from a silver plan to a bronze plan to "save" money and we will have a higher deductible and higher out of pocket max. That's the impact of Congress failing to extend the subsidies. Millions of people are seeing their costs double or worse.

[james.hendrickson]

Yep - thanks to congress's shenanigans, I'm paying 60% more for the same plan this year. My premium was $309, now its $500. Same service and coverage, it just costs a ton more.

[ua_guy]

Aww, that sucks.

[srblanco7]

We were looking at about $30k for a bronze family plan. Thankfully, we are able to hop onto DWs employer plan via COBRA (for up to 3 years) for $18k/year for a family plan.

I'll echo the sentiment that you need a plan for health insurance if your going to retire pre-medicare. Crazy expensive.

[disneysteve]

We were looking at about $30k for a bronze family plan. Thankfully, we are able to hop onto DWs employer plan via COBRA (for up to 3 years) for $18k/year for a family plan.

I'll echo the sentiment that you need a plan for health insurance if your going to retire pre-medicare. Crazy expensive.

I thought COBRA was only good for 18 months.

[ua_guy]

COBRA can be extended up to 29 or 36 months depending on qualifying events - things like disability, death of a spouse, divorce, etc.

[Fishindude77]

When I retired, I could only take COBRA for 18 months.
Must depend on the circumstances for leaving job?

[ua_guy]

If premiums are going to be steep for 2026, it's possible to take a part-time job like delivering pizza or making sandwiches to help cover the cost. A little extra work never hurt anyone~

[MonkeyMama]

COBRA is 3 years in California.

[srblanco7]

I thought COBRA was only good for 18 months.

Not my area of expertise but DW inquired multiple times and was told 3 years. In addition, her replacement in HR for her company is a person from their benefits administrator and validated the duration. Won’t surprise me if we’re working with wrong info - we’ll adapt and overcome.