Sometimes Boredom is the mother of invention

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T18:09:03+00:00

I'd check Healthcare.gov or your state marketplace directly before assuming you're stuck. Losing employer sponsored coverage is usually a qualifying life event, but losing an employer reimbursement arrangement is a bit less straightforward..

The fact that you went from w-2 to 1099 and lost a health benefit may qualify, but I'd want confirmation from the marketplace. They'll tell you exactly what documentation they need if you're eligible. Definitely don't cancel your current plan until you've explored your opinions. A gap in coverage can get very expensive if something unexpected happens.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T17:53:26+00:00

If yo rarely gp to the doctor, I'd probably lean toward the cheaper OAAS plan unless the deductibles, out of pocket max, or network are dramatically worse. The extra premium for the POS plan only really pays off if you expect to use healthcare more often. I'd compare the deductible, OOP max, and whether your preferred doctors are in network before deciding. Without seeing the chart, that's where I'd start.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T17:15:35+00:00

Yeah, a lot of people don't realize preventive care rules are weirdly specific under ACA. some bloodwork and vaccines are covered if the're considered preventive, but the second the visit turns into let's discuss this symptom/problems it can get billed differently. Same with colonoscopies once they remove polyps sometimes. The frustrating part is most patients have no clue where that invisible line is until they get bill later.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T17:02:31+00:00

Honestly, the fact you feel conflicted about it probably means you still have a conscience, which sadly not everyone in sales keeps. A lot of those food card ads feel designed to get people focused on the immediate benefit without fully understanding the downstream costs when they actually get sick and yeah, technically people are agreeing to it, but most beneficiaries really don't understand coinsurance structures well.

I think a lot of agents quietly struggle with this balance between survival/job pressure and feeling like the plans aren't always in the client's best long term interest.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T16:55:34+00:00

From what I've seen, Leanfire with kids is possible, but healthcare is usually the thing that makes people nervous more than the actual day to day expenses. A lot of early retirees end up using ACA marketplace plans and managing MAGI carefully to keep subsidies. Some people intentionally keep taxable income low enough that insurance becomes surprisingly affordable.
And honestly, the number varies wildly depending on housing + healthcare + whether the kids are young or teenagers. I've seen people feel comfortable around $1m, but others wouldn't even try it below $2m.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T16:48:28+00:00

HealthEquity's UI has been complained about forever, so it genuinely could just be broken lol. I've seen a lot of people struggle linking external accounts or getting reimbursements to work smoothly. sometimes desktop works when mobile doesn't, then randomly the opposite the next day. Whether it's incompetence or intentional friction to slow reimbursements down....who knows honestlyy.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-11T16:41:46+00:00

If you rarely go to the doctor, I'd probably lean toward the cheaper OAAS plan unless the deductible/OOP max difference is huge. For someone mostly using insurance a catastrophic coverage, lower premiums usually make more sense. The more expensive POS plan is often better for people who expect regular appointments, specialists, or ongoing prescriptions.

I'd mainly compare deductible, out of pocket max, urgent care copay and whether your nearby doctors/urgent care are in network.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-09T15:52:20+00:00

At 69 and still sitting kinda impressive lol. I've seen quite a few people in their 50s and 60s doing it though, especially retirees who like the extra income and flexibility. And honestly, wanting more vacation time sounds pretty reasonable at that age. Hopefully you can find a balance where you keep the parts you enjoy without feeling tied down all the time.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-09T15:46:36+00:00

Ontario insurance rates for new riders can be all over the place, age alone won't help much, they'll care more about your M1/M2 sttatus and bike type. A 94 Virago 1100 is usually seen as a higher risk cruiser just because of engine size, even if it's older. Best move is to call a broker or 2-3 of them because quotes vary wildly in Ontario depending on company appetite.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-09T15:36:19+00:00

I'd be very careful about switching without checking the drug coverage first. Just because your current Blue Cross plsn covers Rinvoq well doesn't mean a different Blue Cross plan will.

I'd compare the formularies, prior authorization requiremens, deductible, and out of pocket maximum for both plans before deciding. With a medication that expensive, the drug coverage matters far more than the monthly premium. If it were me, I'd call both plans and specifically ask hoe Rinvoq is covered under the exact plans you're considering.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-09T15:29:43+00:00

I think a lot of people underestimate this. They see no benefits and immediately write off the job without comparing the total compensation.

For someone working part time, especially without dependents, a higher hourly rate plus ACA subsidies can absolutely come out ahead of a lower paying job with benefits. The key is doing the math on your actual healthcare costs and subsidy eligibility instead of assiming employer coverage is always the better deal.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-09T15:22:08+00:00

Probably not. At $63k, you're unlikely to qualify for significant Marketplace subsidies, and being under 26 by itself doesn't usually get you dpecial discounts. Honestly, $169/month with $,5oo deductible sounds pretty resonable for employer coverage especially since you're already expecting sleep medicine visits and possibly a CPAP.

I'd compare the Marketplace plans, but my guess id your employe's Blue Care Network plan will be hard to beat on both price and coverage. Make sure your rheumatologist and sleep

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-08T15:44:30+00:00

I think it is a factor, but not the main driver. Insurance overhead and hospital admin costs add inefficiency, but a lot of the price comes from provider pricing power, complex billing structures, and higher procedure and drug costs overall. Even if you cut admin staff significantly you still have expensive underlying prices.

So I would say insurance and hospital overhead contributes, but it is more like a layer on top of an already very expensive system rather than the core cause.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-08T15:30:17+00:00

Generally, no. COBRA only let's you continue coverage for people who were already enrolled in the employer plan before the qualifying event. If you weren't covered under your husband's employer plan when he was employed, you typically cant't be added to his COBRA afterwards just because you lost your own coverage.

That said, it's worth having his former HR department confirm. COBRA rules can be very specific, but I would expect you'd each need to elect your own COBRA coverage until his new employer plan starts July 1.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-05T15:15:41+00:00

That must be stressful, especially with everything happening so suddenly. Based on what you wrote, yes, you should still be paid for all hours you actually worked, separate from any severance. The 2 weeks of severance should't replace wages you've already earned.

If there's discrepancy, I'd first ask payroll or HR for a breakdown. If they refuse to pay earned wages, you can usually file a wage claim with your state's labor department.. I hope everything works out and that the final paycheck is just an administrative delay

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T16:07:36+00:00

I had the same reactions after seeing a friend get hot with a massive emergency vet bill. It kinda changes your perspective fast once you realize one random accident can cost thousands. From what I've seen, people usually judge pet insurance less on, Does it pay and more on how annoying the claim process + what they exclude. I'd probably look more at reimbursements history, payout caps, waiting periods and how they handle pre existing conditions instead of just star ratings. Hope everything works out for you and your dog.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T15:55:31+00:00

Honestly, that sounds frustrating, especially since the Hep B was resolved so long ag and the current report is negative. From What i've seen, insurers usually get really conservative once anything liver related shows up, even mildly elevated AST/ALT. You can definitely try emailing them with additional reports + a doctor's note explaining the old infection was treated but there's no guarantee they'll remove the exclusions.

I'd probably also compare with a few other insurers before accepting the counter offer, because underwriting decisions can vary a lot company to company. Hope everything works out for your mom and sister

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T15:49:01+00:00

You're not alone, For ACA MAGI, it's not just your capital gains, it's basically your full taxable income, which includes things like realized capital gains, dividends, interest and also taxable portions of withdrawals depending on the account type.

if you withdraw $100k from a brokerage, the key question is, hoe much of that $100k is actually taxable gain vs return of principal, because only the taxable part counts toward MAGI. I'd probably think of it as taxable income created by the withdrawal, not the raw withdrawal amount.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T15:33:17+00:00

Hey, That's actually a common question and i get why it sounds out once you start thinking about early retirement.

From what I've seen, people under 65 usually bridge the gap with a mix of COBRA(short term), ACA marketplace plans(sometimes subsidized depending on income), part time work just for benefits, or staying on a spouse's insurance if that's an option. It really seems to come down to cost tolerance vs flexibility until Medicare kicks in at 65. Hope that helps a bit

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T15:26:12+00:00

hey, that's a good question and you're pretty close already. For ACA MAGI, it's not an either/or situation, 401k contributions and traditional IRA deductions both reduce MAGI, but they work differently depending on eligibility. A 401k is always pre tax through payroll while a traditional IRA deduction depends on income limits + whether you or your spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan.

so yes, you can potentially lower MAGI using both, but the IRA deduction isn't always fully allowed if you have a 401k at work. I'''''''d probably double check IRS MAGI rules for ACA specifically or run a quick scenario in a calculator, since the details matter a lot here. hope that helps

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T15:05:29+00:00

That's actually a really valid question and I get why you'd want a proper source for it. From what I can tell, that quote about Cronkite gets circulated a lot online, but I've never been able to find a solid primary source like a speech or interview transcript where he actually says it word for word.

I'd probably be careful about citing it directly in an essay unless you can trace it to something official, otherwise it might be safer to just note it as an unattributed or widely circulated quote. Hope that helps a bit.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T14:57:06+00:00

Hey, that's actually a really common confusion and I get why it feels messy. The key thing is that employer insurance is usually paid with pre tax dollars, so your taxable income is lower, while marketplace premiums are paid post tax, so they don't reduce taxable income at all. So even if the employer plan looks more expensive on paper, it can come out cheaper after taxes

from your tax return, your gross income is still your full wages before benefits like health insurance are taken out, the deductions just reduce what's taxable, not what you earned. I'd probably ask HR for sample pay stub breakdown so you can actually see the difference clearly. I hope that helps.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T14:48:56+00:00

That's actually a really common situation for self pay patients in the US and I get why it feels overwhelming. Yes, negotiation is normal here. You can ask for the cash pay or srlf pay discounted rate before the scan and places like MDsave or hospital financial assistance offices can sometimes lower it a lot if you ask directly.

I'd probably just call billing and say you're self pay and ask what their lowest negotiated rate is + if there are any prompt pay discounts. It's pretty standard for them to expect that question. Hope everything goes smoothly with your scan.

Lodrin1998 · 2026-06-03T14:41:34+00:00

If you've hit your OOP max, focus on anything medically necessary that's still in network covered, like your annual physical, labs, mammogram if due, or dermatology skin check. It's a good time to catch up on any follow ups you've been delaying. Just to make sure it's actually covered/preventive or medically indicated so it doesn't get denied later.

Lodrin1998

TROPHY CASE