Early retirement <> Health Insurance <> MAGI

Early retirement <> Health Insurance <> MAGI

Member since 2023 · 9 posts · 6 votes

I know the answer is likely talk to your CPA, but I am hoping that someone can shed some lights on this.  I know a lot of it depends on a lot of dimensions, but I'll try to be specific as possible.

I am considering early retirement, I have a few rental properties, we are pretty frugal so we think that potentially early retirement is possible.  the one thing that concerns us the most is just the health insurance cost.  however, we are in WA and when looked into the marketplace, it asks you what your annual income would be, and as people here know, rental properties have very good deduction which makes the MAGI number pretty low once you don't have a W-2 income.  but I want to make sure I am understanding this correctly.  because it looks like after I go without my W-2, the MAGI, which is typically just line 11 of 1040, if that essentially drops to pretty low, e.g. <$60k a year, then it looks like that's the income that it is asking for to determine what premium I'll have to pay?  is my understanding of that correct?  Thanks!

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  • Andy WebbPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Carrollton, TX · Member since 2013 · 750 posts · 538 votes
    3y

    I think you are understanding correctly.

    I encountered this when retiring early in 2022.  We wound up on the market place for 2023 and getting a sizable subsidy based on my income "best guess" for 2023.  I used a health insurance broker (and might be worth your talking with one) - he never used the "MAGI" term, just discussed income.  In any case we picked a number that results in a discount now - and I think a pretty reasonable income number....barring any major capital events (e.g. apartment investment selling).

    So we enjoy a monthly subsidy now.  If I guessed wrong and we come in higher on our annual income, we have to return some of the subsidy via the tax return.  If we come in lower, I suppose we get a credit of some sort.  So I have understood - first year in now, so we will see how this shakes out at filing time. 

    By the way - retiring from the corporate world was the best darn decision, even if other variables like health insurance come into play...we can figure those out.

  • Member since 2023 · 9 posts · 6 votes
    3y

    @Andy Webb - thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question, and yes, I am looking forward to the day that I am no longer tied down by the W2.  :)

    A couple of follow up questions:

    - how did you find the health insurance broker?  how are they incentivized?

    - how did you decide when to stop working?  e.g. is the best time to transition at the end of the year?  just so that your next year's income will not include any parts of the W2 income?

    Thank you again for giving me hope.  :)

  • Andy WebbPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Carrollton, TX · Member since 2013 · 750 posts · 538 votes
    3y

    Ha ha - nothing very scientific:  My last day was the Friday before my birthday (a Saturday) - happy birthday to me.  I had a certain age as my target and hit that.  That was in the Spring, and I rode the COBRA train till the end of the year - not cheap but worked for us.

    RE health insurance broker - I met one that sponsors a local REIA group I go to sometimes. They are paid a commission from the insurance company.

  • Member since 2023 · 9 posts · 6 votes
    3y

    @Andy Webb Thank you so much again!  What a great way to retire!  Best birthday present ever indeed!  :)

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