Health insurance cost?

[Masquernom]

I'm on Medicare and my former employer provides $2,400 a year to purchase a Medicare supplement. Looks like this year is the last year that $2,400 will cover all the cost of the supplement. Still, it's a lot better than nothing.

My wife is not old enough yet for Medicare. As a retiree, I can cover her on my previous employer's insurance. They supplement her insurance cost by $6,000 per year. The total cost for her insurance in 2026 will be $12,996 per year. After the supplement, it's $583 per month, or $6,996 per year. That's up 11.1% over 2025.

The costs associated with ACA for 2026 have been much in the news lately. I was just wondering what other retirees are paying for health insurance? I feel very lucky my previous employer provides the help that they do.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

Have a read thru this thread…

2026 ACA plan pricing is starting to take shape

 

[mrfeh]

Spouse and I are shopping right now. Both 59, non smokers. Not gonna say what final cost will be, because that depends on what PTCs you get.

Cheapest bronze ACA plan is $15XX per month.

 

[Koolau]

I'm on Medicare and my former employer provides $2,400 a year to purchase a Medicare supplement. Looks like this year is the last year that $2,400 will cover all the cost of the supplement. Still, it's a lot better than nothing.

My wife is not old enough yet for Medicare. As a retiree, I can cover her on my previous employer's insurance. They supplement her insurance cost by $6,000 per year. The total cost for her insurance in 2026 will be $12,996 per year. After the supplement, it's $583 per month, or $6,996 per year. That's up 11.1% over 2025.

The costs associated with ACA for 2026 have been much in the news lately. I was just wondering what other retirees are paying for health insurance? I feel very lucky my previous employer provides the help that they do.

Old Megacorp also supplies both DW and me a stipend to cover MC supplement. It's a bit more than needed for MC premiums but runs out quickly on deductibles and drug costs. With the relatively high number of medical issues/dental DW and I are dealing with, we likely spend (out of our pockets) an additional $500/month. Of course, that's way better than when I was on Megacorp health insurance.

 

[bada bing]

I'm now out of IRMAA tiers and have Medicare + UNH G plan. And a "free" D plan,. My premiums for 2026 Part B & G add up to just under $400/month. My ex-employer has a re-imbursement for the cost of Medigap and deductibles, but with a lifetime max that started at $110K in my case. I've burned through almost $25K on my reimbursement account so far. The years before Medicare were expensive to my reimbursement account, paying the full premium for ex-employer's plan for 3 years until Medicare age. I never went the ACA route, using my employer's expensive but reimbursed plan instead.

My total OOP for 2026 will be the $202.90/month part B premium. .I have an HSA account that should pay for my Part B for my expected lifespan.. So while not "free", my medical costs are totally off budget, hopefully for my remaining life but that's not guaranteed.

I can't complain about my health care costs and I have better insurance today than while working, except no dental now. But the inflation is really troubling.

 

[Kings over Queens]

Spouse and I are shopping right now. Both 59, non smokers. Not gonna say what final cost will be, because that depends on what PTCs you get.

Cheapest bronze ACA plan is $15XX per month.

Yup.

multiply that by 12 (annual) then by 6 (more years) and it's a big number.

 

[imjustawarrior]

We are on an unsubsidized retiree plan for a family of 5. 2026 medical and dental premiums will be a little over $35k. I think the premiums went up ~14%.

So far in 2025 we have spent ~$38k on premiums and out of pocket for medical, dental, and vision. Not counting one off purchases, the $38k is the third highest spending category behind DW's CC and then my CC.

 

[rk911]

We're both on traditional Medicare with a Blue Cross/BS Plan F supplement and a BC/BS Part D drug plan. Adding it all comes to ~ $1700 per month. We PAYG for dental and vision.

 

[RetiredHappy]

We're both on traditional Medicare with a Blue Cross/BS Plan F supplement and a BC/BS Part D drug plan. Adding it all comes to ~ $1700 per month. We PAYG for dental and vision.

Presumably it includes IRMAA?

 

[rk911]

We're both on traditional Medicare with a Blue Cross/BS Plan F supplement and a BC/BS Part D drug plan. Adding it all comes to ~ $1700 per month.

Presumably it includes IRMAA?

Correct.

 

[jw72]

I retired from a blue health insurance company, and they discount the retiree group health plan by 25% based on my years of service. My current cost is $1,070 per month, and it will increase by $50 in 2026. At age 65, they contribute $2,200 per year toward the Medicare supplement.

 

[BackcountryMe]

I'm on Medicare and my former employer provides $2,400 a year to purchase a Medicare supplement. Looks like this year is the last year that $2,400 will cover all the cost of the supplement. Still, it's a lot better than nothing.

My wife is not old enough yet for Medicare. As a retiree, I can cover her on my previous employer's insurance. They supplement her insurance cost by $6,000 per year. The total cost for her insurance in 2026 will be $12,996 per year. After the supplement, it's $583 per month, or $6,996 per year. That's up 11.1% over 2025.

The costs associated with ACA for 2026 have been much in the news lately. I was just wondering what other retirees are paying for health insurance? I feel very lucky my previous employer provides the help that they do.

Holy moly. This is a great deal!

 

[Semi-Retired]

Ages 57 & 64. We pay zero. He has nothing, I use an Indian Health Service clinic for a free teeth cleaning each year and a pair of eyeglasses. Generally services are free, you pay for tangible items except 1 pair of free glasses a year, 1-2 dental fillings and they'll cover a dental cap every decade I believe. It's great care. Drugs are sold at their pharmacy at cost. I had to use it during COVID. Chapa De Indian Health Auburn Grass Valley
We cycle 3x a week and eat healthier than most people. We cut out carbs/sugar 50% last year when I started to become pre-diabetes and was diagnosed with Parkinsons. At the time, he'd been taking meds for high BP. We got in a big fight and I threw his clothes off the deck (neighbors all saw me) we were screaming and within 48 hrs, he gave in. He said yes, we'll cycle lose weight and I'll reduce my drugs. What made me snap is he came home with a second drug! His arm had started going numb. We'd be dead. Months later, I don't have any tremors. His BP is normal thru beetroot powder and cycling. It took 30 days to lower his BP. We don't see doctors anymore. I watch Dr. Suneel Dhand, much of Dr. Bergs videos and sometimes Dr. Gundry. Monitor my glucose at home. I lost 2 pants sizes, I'm a 10-12 now. He lost 15lbs. We sleep better. My vision is 25% better so now I can drive at night. No films on my teeth..so my dental visits are better. Bleeding gums are almost eliminated. Our nails grow faster. We take other supplements too. A leafy green salad every day. Anyhow sorry this is so long.