Getting ready to retire!!!

I have my health insurance issue solved. I think I have enough money save (who knows how much you need). It is what it is and I'm as ready as I'm going to be.

For those of you who are retired or have recently retired. Can you send some tips my way?

Why retire? Answer that.

Because our minds and bodies wear down. I wasn't near as sharp as I used to be.

There at the end I took an 18 hour certification course but felt so burned out that I never attempted to schedule the certification exam. My over sixty brain was just not wrapping around the material any longer. I was thankfully RIFfed with a great payoff.

Buy the medigap plan 'F' and you won't ever have to worry about medical bills. The 'advantage' plans can have annual deductibles up to $10,000 out of pocket a year... don't be fooled by 'free gym membership' etc. What you want is ALL EXCESS CHARGES COVERED... THAT'S THE PLAN "F". ... Then call around. YOU can be turned down for this policy 3 months after you turn 65 so the 'window' when you can buy it is very short. Don't let them talk you into one of the other plans... the other plans are crap. Everyone I know who has this has not paid a dime to a doctor or hospital since they got it...

Also, the government requires that all companies that offer Medigap policies have the SAME minimum coverage... so everyone offers the SAME stuff - BUT companies are allowed to charge whatever they want FOR THE SAME POLICY.

If you call Blue Cross they'll have a different price than United Heath Care and a different price than AARP etc. FOR THE EXACT SAME POLICY. So call and ask, "what do you charge for Medigap Plan F and write the numbers down. I found the differences were over sixty bucks a month for the same policy. Go with cheapest. And YOU want the Plan F that ONLY goes up in price with 'the group' NOT based on age.

Insurance companies have so many tricks... AND they'll try to talk YOU out of this choice. When I bought the 'F Plan' one the insurance agents said she had recommended the "G" policy *which doesn't exist anymore FOR HER OWN MOTHER. They'll say anything to talk you out of it.

Also there's a 'high deductible 'Plan F'... YOU DO NOT want that one either. You save ten dollars a month on what you pay and lose more than that the first time you see a doctor.

Once you are debt and mortgage free and the kids are on their own its amazing how much less you really need to live well.

You're right. It's the easiest way to go - pay everything off of then 'live within your means'... zero stress...

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