Healthcare coverage preventing RE..

[kevink]

Medicaid is means-tested based on assets as well as income.

I can't ever see it as an option for (voluntary) early retirees.

No, the Medicaid expansion under ACA for those states that signed on doesn't have a means/asset test.

As low-income ER's living off of assets we've alternated between Medicaid and high-subsidy ACA plans depending over the past 3 years. Managing income (childless couple) to $24K a year provides access to an ACA silver plan for less than $100 a month total after subsidy. Keeping under, say, 19K means automatic Medicaid and whether that's better or worse than an ACA plan depends on the specific state and city in which one resides, in our experience.

In Tucson AZ for example same doctors and clinics for Medicaid and ACA plans but in Colorado and many other places Medicaid ends up being de facto hospital-only coverage as finding doctors that will take it is difficult. Obviously the stigma attached to Medicaid, pending work rules in many states, etc. makes the ACA plans a better choice overall for now. Impossible to plan more than a year or two out in any case which is maddening.

 

[ncbill]

No, the Medicaid expansion under ACA for those states that signed on doesn't have a means/asset test.

As low-income ER's living off of assets we've alternated between Medicaid and high-subsidy ACA plans depending over the past 3 years. Managing income (childless couple) to $24K a year provides access to an ACA silver plan for less than $100 a month total after subsidy. Keeping under, say, 19K means automatic Medicaid and whether that's better or worse than an ACA plan depends on the specific state and city in which one resides, in our experience.

In Tucson AZ for example same doctors and clinics for Medicaid and ACA plans but in Colorado and many other places Medicaid ends up being de facto hospital-only coverage as finding doctors that will take it is difficult. Obviously the stigma attached to Medicaid, pending work rules in many states, etc. makes the ACA plans a better choice overall for now. Impossible to plan more than a year or two out in any case which is maddening.

No kidding.

Good luck finding any specialist here willing to take on a new Medicaid patient.

Think I'd shoot for 'adjusting' income to qualify for an ACA plan.

 

[GTFan]

Are their any examples of "net worth" taxes out there?

I'd think these would be pretty easy to avoid with some effort.

Not in federal tax code that I've seen other than estate tax. As mentioned before, asset-testing was considered and rejected as part of ACA drafting. For obvious reasons given the problems involved with reporting.

There is no loophole for ERs here, they knew what would happen.

 

[ivinsfan]

Not in federal tax code that I've seen other than estate tax. As mentioned before, asset-testing was considered and rejected as part of ACA drafting. For obvious reasons given the problems involved with reporting.

There is no loophole for ERs here, they knew what would happen.

That's true, but I'm seeing shifting sentiment or bias towards people with money, however there is so much posturing and upheaval going on in DC that I think this is still small potatoes and not low hanging fruit.

 

[Sunset]

My approach was to take a part time job that provides good, inexpensive health insurance. (Airline reservations)

Would love to be totally retired, but this is a good compromise for me & I think of it as "my nice little retirement job."

.....

This is exactly what many early retiree's did before the ACA existed, as a way to have health coverage.

 

[USGrant1962]

This is exactly what many early retiree's did before the ACA existed, as a way to have health coverage.

Or they paid for Major Medical and covered routine stuff out of pocket, which is illegal now.

 

[jim584672]

No kidding.

Good luck finding any specialist here willing to take on a new Medicaid patient.

Think I'd shoot for 'adjusting' income to qualify for an ACA plan.

In my state the doctor networks for Medicaid Managed Care (0-138), Essential Plan (138-200), and ACA metal (200-400) plans are basically the same. The differences are the co-pays, deductibles and premiums. Fee-for-Service Medicaid is not even an option, they are all HMO like networks.