Health Insurance for the Solo Early Retiree: How to Bridge Gap Medicare on Your Own — Coverage, Costs, and New 2026 Subsidy Rules

You retired early. Now you have to insure yourself until Medicare - alone. If you're single and stepping away from work before 65, the standard health-insurance advice doesn't fit. It assumes a spouse's plan to fall back on, a second income to smooth the bumps, and someone to share the research. You're doing this on your own - and in 2026, the rules got harder: the enhanced ACA subsidies expired, and the old "subsidy cliff" is back. Cross one income line and a healthy 62-year-old can face premiums over $1,500 a month. This focused guide is written for exactly your situation: a household of one, bridging the gap to Medicare without overpaying. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Why "solo" is a different game - and how to use it to your advantage- Your real options when there's no spouse's plan: the Marketplace, COBRA, and what to avoid- How ACA subsidies actually work, and exactly what changed in 2026- The MAGI control game: how which accounts you spend from decides your premium- How to plan around the subsidy cliff - and when to ignore it on purpose- COBRA vs. the Marketplace: the decision that quietly costs people thousands- Choosing the right plan: metal tiers, networks, cost-sharing reductions, and the HSA question- A year-by-year timeline from your last day of work to your 65th birthday- How to hand off to Medicare at 65 with no gap and no lifelong penalties INCLUDES - Six worked case studies - steady spender, big pre-tax balance, chronic condition, October retiree, lumpy consulting income, and an unplanned layoff at 56- A fill-in Solo MAGI Worksheet and an annual open-enrollment checklist- A plain-English glossary and where to get the real, current numbers > This book is educational information, not personalized advice. Confirm current rules at HealthCare.gov, Medicare.gov, and IRS.gov, and bring in a licensed broker or tax professional for your situation.