The tipping point: When to get out

[Martha]

What stops me from retiring today are the unknowns regarding health insurance. My husband and I will have to buy our own and probably through a risk pool once COBRA runs out. In all the retirement calculators I see, you estimate your expenses and you estimate inflation. How can we possibly estimate what health insurance is going to cost or whether it is going to be availlable in a few years? This is very frustrating. I am having a hard time guessing what to add to my expense "budget" to address this unknown. Currently, COBRA will cost us about a thousand a month, with a $750 deductable, and about $150 a month in copays (primarily drugs for a chronic condition). When COBRA expires, we can join my state's risk pool. Today the cost would be about the same. What will the cost be two years from now? Ten years? Who knows. We probably will be fine if the cost increases 10 per cent a year for three or four years, but if it doubles too soon, it is back to raman noodles from like our college days.

[mickeyd]

Hey Martha_M

Re: your question about future costs of your state's health pool. In my state (TX) the state pool "stands alone" and is self supporting. It can not turn down otyerwise qualified applcants no matter what their health sitaution. This means that premiums collected from all participants must be sufficient to support all expected claims. The state taxpayers do not "support" the plan. Only participants "support" the plan. Therefore, there is no upper limit on what premiums can be charged in the future.

I suspect that your state's plan is run the same way because these plans were established as part of the HIPPA act.

[Zipper]

Bob_Smith, Lucan is about 20 miles north of London. Did your relatives fill you in about "The Black Donnellys"? Up until 1900, there was unrestricted access at the Canada-US border and citizens crossed back and forth at Sarnia-Port Huron, Detroit-Windsor, and Buffalo-Ft. Erie. My Great Grandfather took his family to North Dakota ~ 1885, but returned to Ontario within a couple of years. My Great Uncle was killed in a bridge construction accident in Michigan in the 1890's. After 1900 the politicians took over and border restrictions were put in place. My father, and Grandfather worked for US railways in St. Thomas and either went to Buffalo or Detroit each day. My mother still receives a retirement cheque in $US each month! .John Galt, I'll give you the climate advantage for 6 months. 8). As for the Orwellian society, spoken like someone who needs a reality check. :P. Lake Huron, half an hour from London(Grand Bend) has great beaches and beautiful sunsets. From May to October it's great, but I really don't like winter anymore. Mrs. Zipper and I like Florida. Siesta Key and Ft. Lauderdale(what a combination) are our favourites.

Hello Zipper! Re. "reality check......Orwellian".
I'm a pretty smart guy. My view of an Orwellian
future for all of us is as solid a conviction as I
possess, and I possess a lot. I am almost 60
and we have been headed there continuously
for my entire life. What other future can a
resonably intelligent person forsee?? 1984
will arrive, I assure you. It's only a matter of time.

John Galt

[Bob_Smith]

Zipper, yes, my ancestors were actually involved in the whole Donnelly mess. I'm afraid at least one may have been present and participated in the killing. My GG Grandfather would have left for Iowa before the killing, but he had a brother who was likely involved. They despised the Donnellys. I read a book recently about the whole affair by Ray Fazakas. We have been meaning to get up to the London area to visit Lucan and to see the old homestead.

I don't know anything about the "Donnelly mess"
but the I heard once that a distant relative of mine was
involved in the Donner incident. I also heard they
were so embarrassed by the flap which followed
that upon arriving in California they changed their
name to McDonald and opened a restaurant. You know the rest. This is no Kroc!

John Galt

[Zipper]

In the old St. Thomas Anglican Church Cemetary, close to where Mrs. Zipper grew up, is a grave of a Canadian in the Northern Army who died in Virginia in the Civil War. Year after year, without fail, a new flag, and flowers appear. I often wonder who looks after these things? If any of you visit the area I would be honoured to show you.

I confess that I have been taking care of the Zipper plot.
When I was younger I was accused of not being able to
keep my zipper closed. Guess I am trying to make up for
all those years of "loose" behavior. I never planned to
end up this way. Things kind of happened on the fly.

John Galt

Quote:

I confess that I have been taking care of the Zipper plot. When I was younger I was accused of not being able to keep my zipper closed. *Guess I am trying to make up for all those years of "loose" behavior. *I never planned to end up this way. *Things kind of happened on the fly. John Galt

John,

Now this is truly Hilarious!

[Zipper]

At close to 60 John, it's too young to put your Zipper to rest. Maybe you should look into that newfangled drug thingie called Viagra.