When my MA plan terminated effective 12/31/25, I took this opportunity and switched (without any health screening) from MA to Medicare/Medigap for 2026 and, so far at least, I'm glad that I did. Yes, the premium cost is higher, but my health is worth it.
I couldn't agree more that knowing exactly how much you spend--on everything--is an essential first step towards controlling how much you spend going forward. I record (obsessively!) all of our expenditures on Quicken, which makes it simple to generate a retrospective report on spending during the past month, past quarter, or past year. (I would argue that a longer time frame for this information is more useful, as some significant expenditures only occur a few times (or once) per year.)
The Wall Street Journal recently published this poignant article with a similar theme: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/retirement-planning-lessons-alzheimers-0ccf8cb5?st=wDGD1S&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
I was booked on a flight from Boston, scheduled to depart around 8:00 a.m. on 9/11, bound for my home in Seattle. Things wrapped up early in Boston, so I decided to try to fly home late on the 10th. I managed to re-book on the last flight to Seattle on 9/10. If I hadn't made that chance decision, my flight would have been grounded somewhere over the northeast US. Shortly after I awoke the next morning, my wife received a phone call telling her that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I assumed it was a small plane, until I turned on the TV... Hard to believe that was 24 years ago.
Comments
When my MA plan terminated effective 12/31/25, I took this opportunity and switched (without any health screening) from MA to Medicare/Medigap for 2026 and, so far at least, I'm glad that I did. Yes, the premium cost is higher, but my health is worth it.
Post: Medicare Advantage Part C — Not too soon to start planning for 2027
Link to comment from August 12, 2026
Thank you for a thoughtful post (& e-booklet!) about a daunting decision.
Post: Before Someone Else Decides
Link to comment from August 4, 2026
I couldn't agree more that knowing exactly how much you spend--on everything--is an essential first step towards controlling how much you spend going forward. I record (obsessively!) all of our expenditures on Quicken, which makes it simple to generate a retrospective report on spending during the past month, past quarter, or past year. (I would argue that a longer time frame for this information is more useful, as some significant expenditures only occur a few times (or once) per year.)
Post: The Monthly Mystery of the Vanishing Paycheck
Link to comment from February 11, 2026
The Wall Street Journal recently published this poignant article with a similar theme: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/retirement-planning-lessons-alzheimers-0ccf8cb5?st=wDGD1S&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Post: You worked a lifetime, you achieved your goals, you have it all-the next day it hardly matters
Link to comment from November 26, 2025
Test
Post: What is your definition of a millionaire?
Link to comment from November 4, 2025
I was booked on a flight from Boston, scheduled to depart around 8:00 a.m. on 9/11, bound for my home in Seattle. Things wrapped up early in Boston, so I decided to try to fly home late on the 10th. I managed to re-book on the last flight to Seattle on 9/10. If I hadn't made that chance decision, my flight would have been grounded somewhere over the northeast US. Shortly after I awoke the next morning, my wife received a phone call telling her that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I assumed it was a small plane, until I turned on the TV... Hard to believe that was 24 years ago.
Post: Remembering 9/11
Link to comment from September 13, 2025