Keep safe the both of you, as you know as we get older we tend to need some maintenance along the way, we are lucky here to have some form of health benefits but its getting worse as time goes on.

 

Wow, Bob!
My supplement premium is a little less than half that.
I'll be 77 in August, a cancer survivor for 14 years, and the only meds I take now are what my cardiologist prescribes. My Oncologist took me off quarterly check ups, now semi annually, and told me we'll just do labs next time, no CT, unless something shows up.

 

Pretty much the same with my wife, but she suffers from arthritis, and high blood pressure. It really slows her down.

 

Reason number 6569 not to live in the land of fruits nuts and flakes. Plan G for a 79 year old non smoker in flyover country.

UNITEDHEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY *

$2,847.00​

 

I did not see a point to this post.

 

It's called Chit Chat John. I'm going to be 80 years old in a couple of weeks. It has already put things in a different perspective for me. My 3 three year old Great Grandson has told me he doesn't want me to work anymore. I did retire ten years ago, but a growing business brought me back. It has not hindered me in any way. If there is anything I haven't done, or any place I haven't seen, it's because I lacked the interest and not anything else.
I've lived a full life. I married my wife in our teenage years, and it was rough having two kids and not being of legal age to buy a beer. I continued a college education, I bought my first house in Silicon Valley at the age of 26, and started my business at the age of 36. Everyone of my kids and grandkids is a college graduate.
Health has not been a major concern for me, but I do have a replaced hip (I ran marathons), and I did have a minor encounter with cancer.
The topic of my post was the cost of staying healthy. Money may not keep us alive, but good insurance coverage will help life when the need is there.
Bob

 

WELL, Bob...somebody's got to pay for all the people that have NO insurance.

 

That is so true David, but I'm just a little guy doing my share by paying almost 50% in taxes.

 

When one gets to the age of most of us here.... we can be pointless.. It doesn't matter....

 

Got a point there.

 

I think your post is one of reflection which we do as we age and find that our invincible youth has now caught up to us as when we were engaged in raising a family and in the prime of our jobs and not having to give our health the slightest thought or worry. Now we have a different occupation - staying alive and staying in good health.

 

Yep. It's good to see what's in our rear view mirror, but we need to stay on course.

 

I was concerned for many years about having enough saved to live well in retirement. I was very pleased when I saw the estimates of how much my SS payments would be. It turned out that my SS check plus two pensions has us living at about the same level as when I was working. The only money I've drawn from my IRA is the minimum required withdrawal and out of that I put the max allowed amount in my Roth. All is good for now but I do worry about one of us ending up in a nursing home which would be financially catastropic this day and time. God has been good to us and blessed us with children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. What is the point of this? If you don't know, what's the point in trying to explain it?

 

Washington State pushed through a 7% capital gains tax we had to start paying this year that the state supreme court said wasn't an income tax (state constitution doesn't allow income taxes).
I have no pension, so we're living on diminishing capital gains.
Voters in King County just now passed a Crisis Care Centers Levy: $0.145 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. ($1.25 billion)
We bought land decades ago, and a city formed up around us, so valuations are through the roof.
For August, also in King County: Levy Levy Lid Lift for Veterans, Seniors and Vulnerable Populations.
After raising concerns about the ballot measure on local social media, I was accused of "hoarding" land. (Equity at work?)
It wouldn't be so bad if we could trust the fund administrators, or if the attempted solutions showed signs of working -- but things seem to be deteriorating.

 

Nomad is awesome!

 

My parents both lived to be 96. My Dad passed away in a hospital, my Mom was like me, and she passed away calmly at home. Medicare took very good care of them, and I helped supplement their income so they never suffered for lack of anything.
I guess the idea that I will soon be eighty and grateful for what life has given me. I have no complaints paying my share, and grateful for still having my wife by my side...incidedntally her Mom will be 100 years old in November.

Sounds like you both have great gene pools to draw from!
I'll be 70 in a few months, and so far, so good (no meds, nothing).
My wife is doing OK, but she's a 10 year cancer survivor (caught it early!) and she's on a bunch of meds to deal with potential issues.
Count your blessings... I know I do.

 

 

I guess I should feel guilty taking that as check each month without working for it. I worked until I was 69 and didn’t start taking a check until then. But I realize that my taking a check now instead of letting them give that money to someone who has never worked and who has no intention of ever working is just running up the national debt. perhaps I should feel guilty about it, but I don’t.

 

me either. I started mine at 62. My Dad waited until he was 65 and died at 66 1/2. With no one for his to go to, all that money he paid in just went into the freebie hole.

 

To each his own as the saying goes. The SS plan that you like the most is the best one for you. It may be a little known fact but for every year you postpone drawing your ss check past your full retirement age you get an 8% increase up to four years (or 32%). For every $1000 you would have drawn at, say, 66 you can draw $1320 by waiting four years to start drawing. If you were going to draw $4000 a month you will instead draw $5,280. People talk about how long you will have to draw it to break even but if you need income that extra 32% is substantial. People argue that if you die before you break even you will never make it up. I tend to put more weight on the argument that if you live past the break even point that extra 32% in income is really going to help. Monthly income is far more important than a nest egg. Nest eggs run out but a fixed monthly income lasts as long as you do. In my case my Mom's people live well into their ninety's as a rule so I'm planning for that eventually. If I die tomorrow it really won't matter where my finances are concerned. I don't think we are going to need ss checks after death anyway.

 

That's right. The moment you die it does not matter if you "broke even." Does not matter if you were a pauper or a billionaire. Death is the great equalizer. When people speak about equality of outcome, they are really just talking about death. They just have to be patient.

 

You can begin collecting SSI at age 62, but the amount you collect increases the longer you wait to collect until you reach the threshold age of 70. So, if you're retired, the amount you collect will not increase beyond the age of 70. In my case, the amount continues to increase because I am not retired and continue to draw a paycheck. I continue to pay all of my taxes plus SSI, and Medicare. To add insult to injury, Medicare is deducted from the amount of SSI I collect because of what I earn.
My wife retired in her late 30's to care for our Grandkids. She gave up a good career in the electronics industry to become an unpaid babysitter. She helped me set the cornerstone for our future and I was very grateful for that. I believe she began collecting SSI in her mid 60's.
We both have IRA'S and we have to withdraw a mandatory amount every year. The amount we withdraw goes in our Great Grandkid's 529 college fund.
Bob

 

Wow. Best to everyone. I guess there’s one benefit of being Canadian and that’s not having to worry about medical. If someone gets sick I don’t have to worry about them losing everything to pay the medical bills.
Cheers to all.

 

Wow. Best to everyone. I guess there’s one benefit of being Canadian and that’s not having to worry about medical. If someone gets sick I don’t have to worry about them losing everything to pay the medical bills.
Cheers to all.

I think I pretty much prefer private health care VS the taxes assessments to support universal healthcare according to this report.

How Much Do Canadians Really Pay for Health Care? – The American Spectator | USA News and Politics

A recent survey conducted by the Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 51 percent of U.S. adults support single-payer health care. This isn’t a poll of actual voters, of course, but it does suggest that the propaganda campaign conducted by the Democrats and the “news” media...

spectator.org

 

Many snowbirds who come to Tucson go to Nogales for dental care, too.
When my brother in law was alive, he lived in Palm Desert, and it was a popular place for wealthy Canadians, who would come for medical treatment and pay for it here rather than wait forever in Canada.

 

Wrong topic for me to chime in on. Yikes

 

LOL!!!

 

I'm in the court of retiring early. As a machinist all my life, I earned an average wage. But, luckily I served 4 years active duty and 17 years National guard, which allowed me the benefit of a small pension and good health care at 60 years old on top of medicare when that kicks in next year. When I retired two years ago at 62 and knowing the break even at 80, I figured if I make it to that point I'll feel blessed and won't need the extra SS money since I'll be done traveling and spending. When I was working and paying taxes, paying for health care, putting into my 401k, my income is about the same now with SS and military pension. I haven't touched any of my retirement funds as I don't need them. It's all about living within your means.

 

I had my points at 58 and when I hit 62 I said screw you I am out of hereafter 36 years. I do not regret leaving one bit.

 

I am the oldest of 6. I began working at 15. Worked two hours before going to school and four hours on Saturday. On payday, I always gave half to my Mom. I left home after high school without any support from my folks, nor did I ask for any. I married my high school sweetheart. Been married for almost 62 years...yep same woman.
I don't know how not to work. I took a chance on myself when I moved me and my young family 600 milkes away from home. I took a chance on myself when I started my business at the age of 36. I had two homes, a 4Plex , and a business before the age of 40.
Financially, I don't have a need for SSI, and didn't sign up for it until 70. Much of it went to supplement my parents and inlaws limited income while they were alive. My wife and I travel out of the country, and we donate to good causes. My wife donates to medical organizations, and even SPCA. I support youth groups and the needy such as displaced mothers with kids...and I have a crazy hobby that drives my wife nuts.
What's my point? Hell if I know! What I do know is that whatever I did, or wherever I went I tried to learn, make friends, help others, and enjoy myself doing it.
I am almost 80 now, and like Forest Gump when he quit running, I'm ready to stop. Stop "work". My business will go on the market. My son, who has been working with me for at least 30 years, will get 1/3 of whatever we get. 1/3 for me, and 1/3 for my wife who without her I would not have had the life I enjoy so much.
I really enjoy this forum. I envy those members that know what makes an engine run smooth. I envy those with a knack for putting a fine gloss on my cars, and the old school upholsterers that bring back those memories we so fondly remember, and what I learned about this, is that the best ones are the ones that enjoyed going to their job and doing what they knew best...but there comes a time when we need to rest and make the best of whatever time we have left, but I think I've been doing that all my life...hope you have too.
Bob

 

Trifecta wrote: (In part)..

"What I do know is that whatever I did, or wherever I went I tried to learn, make friends, help others, and enjoy myself doing it."

Not bad rules to live by... I'd only add 'to be willing to pass along what you learn to others'...

 

Bob, by the photo above ...correct me if wrong have I possibly seen you some Saturday mornings at or about a Bonita donut shop ?

 

Don, the pic was taken in front of our beach home in Shell Beach near Pismo. The car was restored in El Centro, CA

 

Given all that information, then I'd have to say it WAS you he observed scarfing down donuts at the Bonita!

 

Gulp. Guilty! My road to perdition. Fast cars, and doughnut lines. 😋

 

Bob,
The reason for asking....opening your profile page it pops up as San Diego's South Bay area, actually Imperial Beach which is only a few miles S. west of the small town of Bonita where each Saturday morning myself and 50-100+ rods & rodders congregate for donuts and old times. Just seemed to me you'd have been a good fit.

 

Nope. The South Bay I live in is the San Francisco Bay Area. I don't know where Bonita is...but I do like car meets, especially when there's donuts involved.