How can I keep my income low enough to qualify for ACA subsidies in early retirement?

ACA premium tax credits phase out as your modified adjusted gross income rises, so early retirees can lower health-insurance costs by controlling taxable income before Medicare at 65. Practical levers: live partly off cash savings and Roth withdrawals, which don't count as taxable income, harvest long-term gains only up to the amount you need, and postpone large Traditional IRA withdrawals or Roth conversions to later years. The catch is a genuine tension with Roth conversions, which do add income now to save taxes later. You have to weigh the subsidy you'd forfeit against the long-term tax savings. Recheck the income thresholds each year since Congress has adjusted the subsidy structure repeatedly.