How do I handle health insurance after I FIRE but before Medicare at 65?
Most early retirees bridge to Medicare with an ACA marketplace plan, and the key lever is that subsidies are tied to your MAGI, which you can largely control as a FIRE'd household. By living partly on taxable-account sales, Roth withdrawals, and cash — none of which count fully toward income — many people qualify for substantial premium subsidies despite a large net worth. Other options include COBRA from your old employer (usually expensive and time-limited), a working spouse's plan, Barista FIRE for employer coverage, or a healthcare-sharing ministry (which isn't true insurance and carries real risks). Whatever you choose, budget for deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, not just premiums, and plan your taxable income each year around subsidy thresholds and Medicaid floors. Don't go uninsured — one hospitalization can erase years of savings. Map your bridge-year income against subsidy targets before you enroll.
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