Guide
Healthcare costs before Medicare.
Early retirement can create a healthcare gap. If you leave employer coverage before Medicare, the bridge years need their own budget.
Medicare generally begins at age 65, though some people qualify earlier due to disability or specific medical conditions. Medicare.gov says the first enrollment period usually lasts seven months: three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and three months after.
If you retire at 55, 58, or 62, you may need several years of non-employer coverage. That can include marketplace plans, COBRA for a limited period, a spouse’s employer plan, or other arrangements. The right option depends on your household, location, income, and medical needs.
Premiums are only one part of the estimate. Add deductibles, coinsurance, prescriptions, dental work, vision care, and the chance that one expensive year arrives earlier than expected.
Estimate the bridge
Count the number of years between your retirement age and Medicare eligibility.
Model the worst year
Use a higher healthcare estimate to see whether the plan still survives.
Review yearly
Premiums and plan networks change, so healthcare assumptions should not sit untouched.
How to use this in the calculator
If healthcare bridge costs are temporary, run one scenario with your long-term retirement budget and another with higher annual spending. The difference shows how sensitive your retirement date is to pre-Medicare costs.
Official reference: Medicare enrollment timing.
Run a healthcare bridge scenario