{"podcast":{"title":"Retirement Answer Man","slug":"retirement-answer-man-391124","podcast_index_feed_id":391124,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/retirement-answer-man","website_url":"https://www.rogerwhitney.com/blog","image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/0kiUitDUurnzLaKvu-RmSrZo0ix5G32Q2WQOFm_klHQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zZWM3/NGVlZDE5ZDYyZGY1/MjJlZWUzMmIzODM1/ODlkNS5wbmc.jpg","author":"Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, RMA, CPWA®","episode_count":656,"summary":"A top retirement podcast. Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, RMA, guides you on how to actually do retirement well financially and personally. This retirement podcast isn't afraid to talk about the softer side of retirement. It will teach you how to retire with confidence. Two-time PLUTUS winner for best retirement podcast / blog and the 2019 winner for best financial planner blog. This retirement podcast covers how to create a paycheck, medicare, healthcare, Social Security, tax management in retirement as well as retirement travel and other non-financial issues you'll need to address to rock retirement. Retirement isn’t an age OR a financial number. It’s finding that balance between living well today and feeling confident about your retirement. It’s about gaining more freedom to pursue the life you want. Join the rock retirement community at www.rogerwhitney.com","last_synced_at":"2026-07-01T18:22:09.489136+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/retirement-answer-man-391124"},"episode":{"title":"Healthcare Before Medicare: How to Lower Your Costs","slug":"healthcare-before-medicare-how-to-lower-your-costs","published_at":"2026-02-18T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/retirement-answer-man-391124/healthcare-before-medicare-how-to-lower-your-costs","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/retirement-answer-man-391124","url":"https://share.transistor.fm/s/b625be4c","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/b625be4c/702618cb.mp3","summary":"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 potentially reduce long-term costs. (04:58) Compare all available coverage options and use practical strategies like staying in-network, timing procedures, and shopping prescriptions to manage costs. UNDERSTANDING THE ACA SUBSIDY SCHEME (POST-2025 CHANGES) (08:48) Roger breaks down the Affordable Care Act’s premium subsidy scheme, designed to make health care more affordable and protect coverage for preexisting conditions. He explains how subsidies are based on income relative to the federal poverty level (FPL) and how the rules have changed over time, including expansions under the American Res…","meta_description":"Roger Whitney continues the four-part series on navigating health care before Medicare, focusing this week on controlling costs—both through everyday deci…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3166,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/retirement-answer-man-391124/episodes/healthcare-before-medicare-how-to-lower-your-costs/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/retirement-answer-man-391124/healthcare-before-medicare-how-to-lower-your-costs.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}