Recent content by stargazer08

I wouldn't think retiring on a cruise ship would be sustainable. If you get sick, they boot you off at the first available port. My parents were on a cruise. My step dad had a mini stroke. They took him away in an ambulance and packed their belongings into plastic trash bags and set them on the...

I've been gluten free for several years. It's made a huge difference in my life. I'm almost 6 feet tall and had dropped down to 110 pounds because I couldn't eat without having severe gut issues. My gut problem was solved and my migraines got 95% better. I'm gluten intolerant and so are my 2...

My 88 year old step father just completed superficial radiation for 3 spots of skin cancer on his face. It's 21 treatments 3X a week for 7 weeks. You might check into this instead of MOHS. He had MOHS on his neck several years ago and it was fairly tramatic for him. Being an all day procedure...

I haven't had that problem and I enrolled the first day.

I went back and used the ages and income from last year on healthcare.gov without logging in. It's actually more money buy a couple bucks. It's the exact same plan. There is only 1 BCBSIL plan that is HSA eligible. We'll stick with this plan and pay the premium. We paid about $250 more per...

2022 was our first year on ACA. Google says there was an additional subsidy from the American Rescue plan that ends this year. I'm 59 and my husband is 62. I don't think age has much to do with it. To get the same level of subsidy we'll have to decrease our income from 60G to 45G or pick a...

Our HSA eligible BCBS plan for Illinois went up 2012%!!! No, I didn't miss a decimal place. I double checked the income we put for our previous application. Using the same income the premiums increased from just under $8 to $161. We can get a cheaper bronze plan but it won't be HSA eligible...

When I retired early, I gave 3 months notice so that they could find and train my replacement. 2 days before my last shift, my replacement gave notice. So much for not leaving them in a lurch. The 2nd replacement got fired for drinking on the job. 2.5 months after my last day my position is...

Thank you for the replies. I put on my big girl panties and finished the application. A little further in were the questions about future coverage in 2022. All is well. Application submitted and eligibility was confirmed. I've paid the first months premium. I'll check back periodically for...

Congratulations! 39 years...wow! I'm joining you in retirement on the same date but not the number of years of service. It is scary giving up a regular paycheck but I'm hoping the freedom gained will be worth the loss of $$. :)

I'm a first time aca applicant for 2022. I'm retiring early December 31, 2021. I live in Illinois and I'm in the process of filling out the application on healthcare.gov. There are questions about my current job related coverage. I've stopped the app at this point because I have no idea how I...

I didn't know LASIK had that much of an impact on cataract surgery. I traveled from Chicago to Houston for LASIK in the early 90s before it was FDA approved. Good to know about the light adjustable lenses. I'm sure I'll travel down the cataract road in the near future.

Congrats on your up coming retirement. 6 months will fly by and drag at the same time. I'm done in 4 and just internally roll my eyes when more stupid crap trickles down from above. I just tell myself "I don't care cuz I won't be here" when the talking heads start blabbering like Charlie Browns...

It might take a bit longer but your wife will probably know when she has had enough. It took me 2 years into my current job of 3.5 years to listen to my husband and decide to quit. The work it self is easy peasy. The schedule is another level of insanity that I have finally decided I no longer...

I have done a 72T for 10 years. I went to a CPA because I didn't trust myself to not make a mistake. I didn't know you could make changes to the amount you withdraw. I can't on mine....well, I believe I could make one change without a penalty but haven't needed to do that. I have to take these...