From my friend Sam:

"I’ve encouraged others to practice Stealth Wealth instead of flaunting luxuries. You don’t want to attract unnecessary hate and scrutiny on your journey to financial independence. Life is already hard enough as it is.

But one example last week caught me by surprise. Senator Amy Klobuchar, while defending the extension of enhanced healthcare subsidies, tweeted in support of a couple featured by CNBC who would be hurt by the loss of these subsidies. The twist? The couple earns $127,000 a year in lifetime pension income, adjusted for inflation!

Only about 19% of American workers have a defined-benefit pension, and even fewer receive six-figure lifetime payouts. To generate $127,000 a year from investments, you’d need roughly $3.2 million earning a 4% return.

So I couldn’t help but wonder: is love for the wealthy back? Or perhaps Senator Klobuchar simply misread the room—championing people who resemble her own demographic, as human nature tends to do."

What do you think?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2025 12:18PM by maverick1.

Out of curiosity, how do you pay for your medical coverage? You are not genuinely implying that $127,000 a year is considered wealthy are you?

You are right about pensions. It is pretty much only government workers now, funded by our tax dollars.

In NY, two public school teachers retiring at 55 are easily getting that pension amount for life. Wealthy? Not sure about that, but certainly a perk to consider for those on the boo-hoo teacher train. The example would not apply to teachers though--their medical is covered until they turn 65 and enroll in Medicare, and then their supplemental policy is covered after that.

You are correct. Public employment is the last bastion of pensions. They cry about pay, but their benefits are unmatched in the private sector. It's the primary reason that governments are in so much debt. The root cause? Turned out the actuarial calculations were wrong. Expenses were greater than payments. Furthermore, people are living longer. The age requirements need adjustment.

Since I retired early, I've purchased healthcare in the private market, not the Obamacare market. It's not trivial. It's ranged from $700 to over $1k/mo for an individual. It eats into investments. Looking forward to Medicare. For me, Medicare in 2025, if I was of that age, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $185 per month, but high-income earners pay an additional amount based on their income. Then I would buy the best medigap plan (G) for about $175/mo. + an annual deductible, so a total of about $375/mo. I'd never consider a Medicare Advantage plan.

Taxpayers can't continue to be burdened by these public employee expenditures.

How about you?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2025 08:07PM by maverick1.

It's sad that I'm looking forward to having Medicare so I'll have some type of insurance. Being a working poor person bites because I don't make enough to afford insurance on my own, yet the State of Texas (which doesn't participate in expanded Medicaid) says I make too much for assistance.

But guess what, Mav? The money I invested has made a whole 83 cents. Whoop!

I read in someone's blog yrs ago that they spend about 16% of their expenses on healthcare in CA. I believe that's about correct for a middle class household.

I'm sorry to hear that with your investing. That's the thing with investing, you have to do it early and often for compounding to do it's best. Warren Buffett made most of his money after 50 due to compounding.

When I was a kid I knew I had to save. I would ride my bicycle to the bank to deposit my small allowance or yard work pay into a savings account and they stamped my book. That's how it all started with me. I know many of my peers live paycheck to paycheck. I try to help with guidance if asked. Altering someone's adult habits is nearly impossible.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

It's sad that I'm looking forward to having Medicare so I'll have some type of insurance. Being a working poor person bites because I don't make enough to afford insurance on my own, yet the State of Texas (which doesn't participate in expanded Medicaid) says I make too much for assistance.

But guess what, Mav? The money I invested has made a whole 83 cents. Whoop!

So, one parent was a saver, one parent was a spender. I took after the wrong parent.

It's funny how, later in life, the roles reverse - the child becomes the parent, and the elderly parent becomes the child who needs taking care of. That's where I'm at now, even financially, of all things! My 80-year-old mother, who was always a saver, now wants to spend money like it's burning a hole in her pocket. And meanwhile, here I am over here pumping the brakes, saying no, and monitoring her bank accounts like a hawk.

Things truly have come full circle.

@maverick1 wrote:

I'd never consider a Medicare Advantage plan.
/quote]

Why do you say that? I did a lot of research years ago before selecting Humana for my mother and I thought her Advantage plan was a great deal. I know it is regional, but there are options that don't cost anything extra beyond the Medicare premium.

Isn't perspective a great thing to reflect upon?

As a young teenager, I remember asking a neighbor/friend; "...do you think we all see things the same?" I was a shy, quiet, introvert as a child. I was inquisitive.

Decades later, I know the answer. We don't. We can look at the same thing, read the same material, listen to others or the media and come away with a different message.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

So, one parent was a saver, one parent was a spender. I took after the wrong parent.

It's funny how, later in life, the roles reverse - the child becomes the parent, and the elderly parent becomes the child who needs taking care of. That's where I'm at now, even financially, of all things! My 80-year-old mother, who was always a saver, now wants to spend money like it's burning a hole in her pocket. And meanwhile, here I am over here pumping the brakes, saying no, and monitoring her bank accounts like a hawk.

Things truly have come full circle.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/2025 10:32AM by maverick1.

There was a time when Advantage plans had more pros than cons. Today, it appears that has reversed.
Here's just one video on the topic: [www.youtube.com]
Here's another: [www.youtube.com]

I know this is a small sample size, but all the people I know who have turned 65 and I discussed this topic, selected the Medigap plans.

@bradkcrew wrote:

@maverick1 wrote:

I'd never consider a Medicare Advantage plan.
/quote]

Why do you say that? I did a lot of research years ago before selecting Humana for my mother and I thought her Advantage plan was a great deal. I know it is regional, but there are options that don't cost anything extra beyond the Medicare premium.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/2025 11:15AM by maverick1.

brad.....similar to maverick, I have anecdotal reports to share - but with more explanation.
I have been told by people with those plans that the pre-authorization process can be onerous at best - and that would be enough for them to reconsider or turn away from MA in favor of the alternatives.

Also, a good friend mentioned that John Oliver did a deep dive on MA on his show a couple nights ago - so I have it queued up on YouTube to watch this week....
Information is everything lol.

Loving this...

Fed Reserve lowers rates and stock market near record highs. Just can't stop winning!
(Fed Cuts 25bps, Ends QT As Expected; Two FOMC Officials Dissent)

It's all RIGHT, nothing LEFT. Get it?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2025 07:35PM by maverick1.

I have not experienced any disadvantages with my advantage plan. It's Part A, B and D. With my no-cost plan, primary visits are free. Specialists are $25 and no referral is needed. It includes preventive screenings, allowances for dental, vision, hearing and OTCs. My husband had a terminal illness. We changed his plans twice at open enrollment without difficulty.

Homework is necessary to get the right fit. Checking maximum out of pocket (MOOP), provider networks and formularies is key.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

brad.....similar to maverick, I have anecdotal reports to share - but with more explanation.
I have been told by people with those plans that the pre-authorization process can be onerous at best - and that would be enough for them to reconsider or turn away from MA in favor of the alternatives.

I will keep that in mind as I will be doing my own research soon enough.

My only experience is with helping my mother navigate medical care for over a decade. She had Humana. I don't recall there ever being an issue, and there were some nice perks as well. Since I live in a rural-ish area specialists are hard to come by in general, but I don't think she was ever denied any referral, test, or procedure, and believe me they were endless. Also, every doctor/lab/hospital/pharmacy in the area accepts Humana ,so that was a non-issue.

I will definitely watch Jon Oliver.

Also remember...

If you like to travel, like we do, most Advantage plans are geographically bound. Meaning, if you travel, your policy will NOT cover you in another region of the country. Medigap does.

Generalizations are often incorrect. I have a Medicare Advantage policy from Humana. Humana covers me nationwide.They have contracts with hospitals, physicians, etc. in many locations because they issue policies in most areas. Even the Medicare Advantage policies issued by Jefferson Health (a Philadelphia region medical system) would cover me anywhere in the US.

@maverick1 wrote:

Also remember...

If you like to travel, like we do, most Advantage plans are geographically bound. Meaning, if you travel, your policy will NOT cover you in another region of the country. Medigap does.

Misinformation seems to be rampant in so many aspects of life. Good news though, it's open enrollment for Medicare and shops are available. It's a good way to make some money and educate oneself.

When away from home and needed, emergency and urgent care are covered within the US by original Medicare and Advantage plans. In or out of network coverage may kick in for routine care when away from home. If one has a second home, or is away from home for months on a regular basis, additional coverage is likely needed. The same if traveling internationally.

@myst4au wrote:

Generalizations are often incorrect. I have a Medicare Advantage policy from Humana. Humana covers me nationwide.They have contracts with hospitals, physicians, etc. in many locations because they issue policies in most areas. Even the Medicare Advantage policies issued by Jefferson Health (a Philadelphia region medical system) would cover me anywhere in the US.

@maverick1 wrote:

Also remember...

If you like to travel, like we do, most Advantage plans are geographically bound. Meaning, if you travel, your policy will NOT cover you in another region of the country. Medigap does.

That's great if you can find an Advantage plan that is portable. But again, the facts are, most don't. The word I used is MOST.

Fact check:
Yes,most Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are geographically bound by a specific service area, typically a county or a region. This is a core difference from Original Medicare, which offers nationwide coverage for any provider that accepts Medicare.
Key aspects of these geographic restrictions include:

Service Area Requirement: You must live within the plan's service area to be eligible for the plan.
Network Restrictions: For routine care, you are generally required to use doctors and hospitals within the plan's specific network in that geographic area.
Out-of-Area Coverage (Non-Emergency): If you receive routine healthcare outside of your plan's service area, the services may not be covered at all, or you will face significantly higher out-of-pocket costs, especially with Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans.
Out-of-Area Coverage (Emergency/Urgent): All Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover emergency and urgent care anywhere in the U.S.. Coverage for dialysis is also typically included when traveling temporarily outside the service area.
Moving: If you permanently move outside your plan's service area, you will need to enroll in a new plan that serves your new location. Moving triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to allow you to do this without a gap in coverage.
Plan Variations: While most plans have service areas, some PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans offer more flexibility with out-of-network coverage (though at a higher cost), and some specific plans offer "traveler" programs that allow for routine care in multiple states for a limited time.

Therefore, it is crucial to check a specific plan's coverage rules and network restrictions, especially if you travel frequently or live in different locations throughout the year.

The statement that Medicare Advantage policies issued by Jefferson Health would cover you anywhere in the U.S. is only partially correct, but primarily for urgent and emergency care. For routine care, coverage is generally limited to their specific service area in the Philadelphia region and South Jersey, though PPO plans offer more flexibility.

Again. Check your specific plan coverage.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/2025 06:21AM by maverick1.

I just looked at some Medicare Prescription Part D Plans for someone and found that the 2026 prices have shot up from about $3/month to $23/month. I assume it's due to new mandatory Rx coverage from the Biden administration? Thanks Joe!

Ref. "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration (the demonstration) in July 2024. Scaling Back of Premium Stabilization Program: A primary reason for individual plan price jumps is the federal government's decision to scale back a temporary premium stabilization program. This program offered subsidies to insurers in 2025 (up to $15/month per enrollee) to help keep premiums low as they adjusted to the IRA changes. For 2026, the subsidy is reduced to $10/month, and the maximum allowable premium increase for participating plans has risen from $35/month to $50/month. This means insurers are passing more costs on to consumers."

Meanwhile, their 2026 Medigap Plan F appears to have stayed very close to the current 2025 pricing.

Medicare Pt B premiums are increasing 11.6% from $185 to $206.50. Takes a big bite out of the SS Cola of 2.8%. I've had an initial meeting with my agent who has recommended a couple of plans, one of which has a buydown of $184.70/month.

@Mert wrote:

Medicare Pt B premiums are increasing 11.6% from $185 to $206.50. Takes a big bite out of the SS Cola of 2.8%. I've had an initial meeting with my agent who has recommended a couple of plans, one of which has a buydown of $184.70/month.

There will be a lot of increases of various amounts. Healthcare has been a problem I've heard since my college professor brought up the subject for discussion in Engineering Ethics class. He ended with a comment that stuck with me after many yrs, "a complex problem usually requires a complex solution."

Patching healthcare costs with taxpayer funded subsidies, aka Obamacare, will never work long-term. Heck, it hasn't worked for even a few yrs. Giving it away to illegal aliens compounded the problem.

There will need to be agreement on covering basic care. More complex care will need to be on a prorated basis. Not everyone is entitled to "Cadillac healthcare." Society cannot afford it. I know it's not an answer everyone wants to hear.