Healthcare Cost in Retirement

Estimate out-of-pocket healthcare costs before Medicare and build them into your FIRE number.

Your Situation

Current Age

Medicare Age (65)

Coverage Type

👤 Single

👥 Couple

👨‍👩‍👧 Family

Health Status (affects premiums) Good

Annual Cost Estimates

ACA Premiums / yr ($) $7,200

Out-of-Pocket / yr ($) $3,500

Dental + Vision / yr ($) $1,200

Healthcare Inflation 5.5%

FIRE Number (Base, excl. healthcare) ($)

Total Pre-Medicare Healthcare Cost

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inflation-adjusted over your gap years

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Gap Years

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Year 1 Annual

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Final Year Cost

✅ You're already past Medicare age — costs shown reflect standard Medicare Part B + D + supplement premiums (~$4,800–$8,400/yr). Your pre-Medicare gap is zero.

Cost Category

Annual (Yr 1)

Lifetime Total

🏥 ACA Premiums

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💊 Out-of-Pocket

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🦷 Dental + Vision

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Total

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Annual Healthcare Cost Over Time (Inflation-Adjusted)

Impact on Your FIRE Number

Base FIRE Number (entered above) —

Healthcare reserve needed (at 4% SWR) —

Adjusted FIRE Number —

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Healthcare Cost in Retirement Calculator

The Healthcare Cost in Retirement calculator tackles one of the most underestimated risks in early retirement planning: the gap between when you stop working and when Medicare kicks in at 65. Most FIRE calculators ignore healthcare entirely, which means people hit their number and then discover they're spending $10,000 to $20,000 or more per year just to stay insured. This calculator lets you dial in your coverage type, health status, and expected costs across premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, and dental and vision, then inflates those costs forward at a realistic healthcare inflation rate (default 5.5%) to show you the true lifetime exposure. It then converts that total into the additional portfolio reserve you actually need, so your FIRE number reflects the real cost of being uninsured by an employer for potentially 20 years.