The Coffee House

otherprof · Feb 7, 2026

There was an article in the Jerusalem Post online today, about a doctor using his bird photos to comfort PTSD and elderly patients.
Here is the link: Jerusalem doctor uses bird photos to comfort PTSD patients | The Jerusalem Post

SquarePeg · Feb 7, 2026

Got another 6” of snow today. Very light and fluffy because it’s freezing out there.

snowbear · Feb 7, 2026

SquarePeg said:
Got another 6” of snow today. Very light and fluffy because it’s freezing out there.

Then the European model went through. You guys were to get more than us.

We are heading to the creamery we like tomorrow: they have baby animals so MLSIL want to "kiss the calf and kiss the @$$." We also need to turn in milk bottles.

Rickbb · Feb 7, 2026

snowbear said:
I was working as a contractor and had coverage through MLW when I qualified. I had to use Medicare as secondary and MLW's plan as primary. it might depend on where you are.

Yeah, I kept both of mine, one primary and Medicare as secondary. Still had to pay something out of pocket, just wrong to have double coverage and still pay something. I should have gotten money back for being sick. lol

SquarePeg · Feb 7, 2026

Rickbb said:
Yeah, I kept both of mine, one primary and Medicare as secondary. Still had to pay something out of pocket, just wrong to have double coverage and still pay something. I should have gotten money back for being sick. lol

About to start paying out of pocket for healthcare as my buyout coverage ends this month. Yikes. I’ll be 61 next week so will have to pay for 4 years of private, self funded health insurance. It was figured into my early retirement financial plan but still stings. Universal healthcare sure would be nice.

PhotoHobbyist · Feb 8, 2026

SquarePeg said:
About to start paying out of pocket for healthcare as my buyout coverage ends this month. Yikes. I’ll be 61 next week so will have to pay for 4 years of private, self funded health insurance. It was figured into my early retirement financial plan but still stings. Universal healthcare sure would be nice.

The gap from 50 to 65 leave many without health insurance, but there are a couple of ways to get it for free.

If you can keep your retirement income low enough, you can get Obamacare free. A minimum $15k taxable income qualifies for 100% subsidized Obamacare. The subsidy dwindles as you reach $50k taxable income. Live off savings and investments and don't touch your 401k as that is taxable income. If you fall short of $15k to qualify for Obamacare, 401K withdrawals will get you over that threshold. In today's environment, investments high returns and high interest it could be tough to keep taxable income low. It was easier to do back when interest rates were near zero for years.

For those whose retirement income is too low to qualify for Obamacare move to a state that has Expanded Medicaid. Expanded Medicaid is free up to $15k taxable income and does not have means testing AKA your level of assets don't matter but you are required to declare them.

snowbear · Feb 8, 2026

I've been truly lucky. The County allows retirees to keep their insurance, though we pay for it. At some point we decided she would be the insurance holder and I'd be a dependent. For the County, Medicare is secondary if you, or your spose, is still working, so Medicare became primary this passed June. We also get a state pension, as well as SSA benefits. I did get an IRA for the brieftime I worked as a contacctor, but there wasn't much in it. I used that as part of the down payment on this house.

SquarePeg said:
I’ll be 61 next week

Well, have a happy birthday!

cgw · Feb 8, 2026

SquarePeg said:
About to start paying out of pocket for healthcare as my buyout coverage ends this month. Yikes. I’ll be 61 next week so will have to pay for 4 years of private, self funded health insurance. It was figured into my early retirement financial plan but still stings. Universal healthcare sure would be nice.

You could always defect to "We the North."

snowbear · Feb 8, 2026

cgw said:
You could always defect to "We the North."

I am seven steps closer (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachussets, New Hampshire, Maine); three hours from New Brunswick.

jeffashman · Feb 8, 2026

SquarePeg said:
I’ll be 61 next week

Happy birthday! February's Children are the best in my opinion...

mine is the last week of the month.

smoke665 · Feb 8, 2026

DW and I are both covered by Medicare and a supplement. I'm on a Blue Advantage Plan, that costs $35/month. DW because of co-pay requirements is on a CPlus plan and BlueRX, both of which now run about $345/month. It pays to go to the seminars every year, after you hit 65 to understand which plan is best, because of ongoing changes.

SquarePeg · Feb 8, 2026

PhotoHobbyist said:
The gap from 50 to 65 leave many without health insurance, but there are a couple of ways to get it for free.

If you can keep your retirement income low enough, you can get Obamacare free. A minimum $15k taxable income qualifies for 100% subsidized Obamacare. The subsidy dwindles as you reach $50k taxable income. Live off savings and investments and don't touch your 401k as that is taxable income. If you fall short of $15k to qualify for Obamacare, 401K withdrawals will get you over that threshold. In today's environment, investments high returns and high interest it could be tough to keep taxable income low. It was easier to do back when interest rates were near zero for years.

For those whose retirement income is too low to qualify for Obamacare move to a state that has Expanded Medicaid. Expanded Medicaid is free up to $15k taxable income and does not have means testing AKA your level of assets don't matter but you are required to declare them.

My goal this year is to continue to live off my buyout package as long as possible and try to get a decent subsidy - assuming those don’t go away. Do not get me going on that or I’ll have to venture into the Subscriber’s forums.

snowbear said:
I've been truly lucky. The County allows retirees to keep their insurance, though we pay for it. At some point we decided she would be the insurance holder and I'd be a dependent. For the County, Medicare is secondary if you, or your spose, is still working, so Medicare became primary this passed June. We also get a state pension, as well as SSA benefits. I did get an IRA for the brieftime I worked as a contacctor, but there wasn't much in it. I used that as part of the down payment on this house.

Well, have a happy birthday!

Thanks! I could continue through my previous employer’s retiree plan and pay for that but it’s a premium bcbs plan and priced accordingly. It’s almost $2k/month for one person.

There are decent options out there through the health care connector for much less - even without a subsidy.

jeffashman said:
Happy birthday! February's Children are the best in my opinion... mine is the last week of the month.

Thanks and happy early birthday to you sir! Agree, I like my birthday except that here in New England it typically snows a lot in February and we almost always end up rescheduling my birthday plans. My brother and his wife travel down from NH so we reschedule whenever roads are bad. This year we got 6” of snow yesterday starting overnight but fortunately it stopped by midday and roads were decent so we had the family over last night for drinks and Chinese food. Played some trivia, had a lot of laughs, ate way too much... One of my sisters-in-law made a yummy tuxedo cake. Perfect evening!

Pats are in the Super Bowl today. Not sure of their chances but it’s always exciting to have the home team make it to the championship game. Undecided if going to a party at my friend’s bar or watching from home. It’s arctic out there today- wind chills well below 0 by game time. Staying home and enjoying my nice warm house seems likely. I got my share of the outdoors yesterday clearing the driveway.

cgw · Feb 8, 2026

Temp cratered this a.m. at -12F, clear and calm. Joined a couple equally deranged neighbors for a quick 5k walk--just to maintain our bada$$ image, of course. Only pooch sighted was Bjorn, a pal's huge, charmingly goofy Malamute who dug the cold more than we did!