Retiring this year - I'm very nervous.

[bw5972]

Also - back to the original question of 'will we be fine'..you mentioned the increase in annual expenses to cover healthcare.

That's the ONE reason I haven't ER'd already. Super stressful job that I desperately want / need to get out of before it kills me, but priced out coverage on the ACA exchange at one point last year, and it was something insane like $18K per year premiums with $6K deductibles..(SERIOUSLY?!!)

Waiting to see what .gov comes up with on the new plan before we decide IF we can ER and if so, when..we could technically afford to, but $20K+/year for healthcare is going to be like a cannonball into the piggy bank every year..and that's the one thing that keeps me working OMY more than anything else..

I ER'ed 2 months ago at 57. My saving grace as far as healthcare goes was being grandfathered into MegaCorps pre-65 medical benefit (age + years of service when they dropped the benefit had to be > than 55).

I had 20 years in at age 45 at that point (12 years ago). Now I'm covered with the same plan options as current employees for $277 a month. I'd be in dire straits otherwise.

 

[Dash man]

I'm high in cash too, about 35%, and am slowly going to add about $310K to ten year treasury notes via treasury direct and I bonds. I have significantly more in stocks than you, so I'm not concerned about keeping up with inflation. I wouldn't touch a bond fund since a sell off could hurt your principal. Buying individual bonds at least gives you the control of when to sell. No fees at treasury direct either.

 

[swakyaby]

Healthcare is my "OMY boat anchor" that keeps me toiling away.

I sympathize. Trying to calculate this uncertain expense for myself and spouse before Medicare eligible is a wildcard. Our unsubsidized health care premiums are really high while working. I'm not at all certain it will get less expensive when I stop working, am older, and possibly get more health issues. So I too am OMY. But at some point, you have to take a leap of faith, decide your savings are close enough, plan to make your spending flexible if the unthinkable happens, and jump into retirement.