Healthcare Before Medicare: How to Lower Your Costs

From Retirement Answer Man by Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, RMA, CPWA®

February 18, 2026 · 53 min · Episode 631

About this episode

Roger Whitney discusses strategies to control healthcare costs before Medicare, focusing on the Affordable Care Act and its subsidy system.

Roger Whitney continues the four-part series on navigating health care before Medicare, focusing this week on controlling costs—both through everyday decisions and by understanding how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidy system works now that the expanded credits have expired. He explains the return of the 400% federal poverty level “cliff,” walks through how modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) impacts premiums, shares listener experiences with inflation and subsidy loss, and explores the ethical tension around optimizing for government benefits. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN (00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but have the confidence to lean in and rock it. (00:30) Roger introduces week three of the four-part series on health care before Medicare, focusing on controlling health care costs and understanding ACA subsidies. He previews next week’s structured decision framework and conversation with Taylor Schulte of Define Financial. PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT (02:35) Start with the fundamentals: staying or getting healthy through strength, cardio, mobility, screenings, and proactive chronic condition management to…

People in this episode

Host: Roger Whitney

Guest: Taylor Schulte

Topics covered

healthcare costs
Medicare
Affordable Care Act
subsidy system
retirement planning

Keywords

healthcare
Medicare
cost control
ACA subsidies
retirement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Affordable Care Act