Swad Wealth Management

Health Insurance (ACA) Premium Shock Coming in 2026...

I was recently quoted in ThinkAdvisor on an issue that could dramatically increase the cost of health insurance for many Americans retiring before age 65.

The enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. This means many households could see health insurance premiums more than double in 2026. For some retirees, the difference between being just under or just over the income threshold could mean $10,000+ per year in extra costs!

This isn’t about politics — it’s about planning.

What matters most:
• Understanding the 2026 ACA “income cliff”
• Carefully managing taxable income (MAGI), not just investment returns
• Being intentional about where retirement income comes from
• Avoiding accidental income spikes from things like RMDs, capital gains, or Roth conversions

Health insurance is one of the largest and most underestimated expenses for early retirees. Waiting until open enrollment is often too late.

If you’re planning to retire before Medicare this is worth a proactive conversation.

Happy to share the article or talk through how this applies to your situation.

Tom and Linda had been talking about their dream trip to Italy for years.

Wine country.
Cooking classes in Tuscany.
Two weeks of pure joy.

But every time it came up, they said…
“Let’s wait until we’ve built the savings back up a little more.”

Then it was…
“Let’s wait until we’re both fully retired.”

Then…
“Let’s wait until Medicare kicks in.”

And then one day, Linda’s health changed.
Not a crisis but enough to make the trip far less enjoyable.

That trip never happened.

Here’s the thing: they had the money.
They just wanted to feel a little more certain.

But certainty never comes.
And waiting cost them an experience they can never get back.

If you’ve been putting off the things you’ve always said you’ll do “someday,” maybe it’s time to get clarity on how much you can spend now without risking your future.

So you can enjoy your healthiest years… without second-guessing.