My job just ended so I'm running through the same calculations now. For my zipcode and household, the subsidy is $2100/mo for the cheapest non-HMO bronze plan for income right at the cliff. Get $1 over the limit and we owe $25K at tax filing.
So for now, I'm staying on Cobra even though it's more expensive in order to re-arrange my investments in 2026. My rough plan:
Step 1 -- pay off mortgage & car loans so I have less money generating interest
Step 2 -- switch cash to muni funds ( lower dividends ), BOXX? ( still researching )
Step 3 -- up to 0% CG limit / ACA cliff, sell off stock funds/etfs with gains to switch to lower dividend options ( BRK-B, VTCLX, etc )
With this, I think I can get comfortably under the ACA threshold.
... Until the oldest isn't covered anymore and then we're faced with the 3-person household cliff .. LOL
... And again 2 years later, 2-person household cliff
... ALMOST makes me want to find a new job just to avoid dealing healthcare insurance
So for now, I'm staying on Cobra even though it's more expensive in order to re-arrange my investments in 2026. My rough plan:
Step 1 -- pay off mortgage & car loans so I have less money generating interest
Step 2 -- switch cash to muni funds ( lower dividends ), BOXX? ( still researching )
Step 3 -- up to 0% CG limit / ACA cliff, sell off stock funds/etfs with gains to switch to lower dividend options ( BRK-B, VTCLX, etc )
With this, I think I can get comfortably under the ACA threshold.
... Until the oldest isn't covered anymore and then we're faced with the 3-person household cliff .. LOL
... And again 2 years later, 2-person household cliff
... ALMOST makes me want to find a new job just to avoid dealing healthcare insurance
Statistics: Posted by MossySF — Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:23 am — Replies 33 — Views 3937