My husband and I are close to FI and we're needing to start estimating the realistic cost of healthcare. We're waffling between going to the open market and one of us taking on a PT job with benefits depending on how much it will cost us. We're only 46/53 so we have a number of years yet to cover ourselves. Can anyone recommend sites that give accurate estimates for the cost of healthcare on the open market?
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Calculate Your FI NumberReplies (7)
thejamesgang
201 XP2 months ago
KFF is a great tool! Bigger Pockets Money has also released a tool that's great as well Healthcare Cost Projection - BiggerPocketsMoney
Jeff Yochum
2 months ago
I can’t remember which personal finance podcast (it was sometime around the government shutdown over the subsidies) I got this from but I’ve found it updated and useful:
etravels16
447 XP2 months ago
this is great! thank you!
JoeQ17
1,527 XP2 months ago
As others noted check the aca site as each location varies widely. Also suggest check with a health insurance agent. They are paid by the health provider so it doesn’t affect your rate and they do the shopping for you.
JayRam
226 XP2 months ago
Are you looking for the cost of healthcare or health insurance? The former varies a lot since there isn't an effective market to provide price transparency. For health insurance, go to healthcare.gov or ehealthinsurance and run the estimates pretending like you are eligible now. Odds are the subsidies and all that will change significantly between now a then, but it's a starting place.
paulfiii
3 months ago
I agree with checking your state's ACA marketplace first. It also helps to compare deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, and provider networks, not just the monthly premium, to get a more realistic estimate.
BostonFI
5,244 XP3 months ago
The website for your state's ACA marketplace is the best place to research the ACA plans available to you.
