jorddarb

Yes and you are correct unless you are sc for dental issues caused by trauma.

10 minutes ago, remoandiris said:

Do you mean you retired from the military in Feb 18 or from a second career?   

Which Prime region are you in?  The west region is pretty big, so Prime in that region might be easy.  

We are half timers (may go fulltime in a year or so) and are Prime East regioners.  Never had a problem if we needed care or labs out of region (included once when there was still a North region a few years ago).  Plus, you get 6 urgent care visits a year without prior approval, so that helps make things easier.  

I have also thought about switching to Select, but have yet to find a valid reason (or even a cost savings) to do it. 

As for dental, many times you can get a dental exam, cleaning and x-rays for under $100 as a new patient.  If you move to a new place once or twice a year, you can't beat that.  Many times dental work (crowns and fillings) will be about the same cost (or a little cheaper) if you pay out-of-pocket vs. an insurance policy premium plus co-pays.  If you plan to winter somewhere along the southern border, there are lots of people who get dental care across the border in Mexico.  

I retired from the Army Feb 18. We are currently enrolled in the West Region our daughter is in east.  Most of our routine care we get at the VA.  Tricare would be for urgent needs if no VA is near.  I can even use the VA for dental, but getting an appointment at our “medical home” in Kansas didn’t fit in with our plans this summer 

This whole insurance thing makes my head hurt.  I retired in Feb 18.  My wife retired in Dec 14.  We are both in the VA system with over 50% service connected disabilities.  I still pay for Tricare Prime so it will cover my daughter in her last year of school.  She ages out in Feb 19.  We are full time and I wonder if Tricare select would be a better option for us after my daughter is no longer eligible for prime.  As stated above I am a little miffed that we have to pay at all, but all things considered it is cheaper than the civilian health insurance.  The new choices of dental and vision are a good thing, but further complicate the whole thing for me.

11 minutes ago, sushidog said:

My dad retired at 62 but lived till 90 (cancer.) My mom died much younger at 55 (cancer.) My FIL also died young, during a minor operation. He worked hard all his life supporting his family, wanting to go to Hawaii but never made it. So who knows how long we will live?

I plan on retiring the first of the year if I can make it. I turn 62 in July and my DW does in December. We will be without health insurance during the gap years, as we have no other choice. We will be living off SS. My DW has some retirement money available at 65, but I spent all my savings (and went in debt) trying to keep my former DW alive - so everyone's situation is different. We plan to make some day trips to Mexico if we need any meds or dental work during the gap years, till medicare kicks in. We'll have no choice but to roll the dice and take our chances. At least we won't be saddled with the ACA penalty during this time - paying for someone else's healthcare while we must go without it ourselves. 

I look at early retirement this way: Suppose you are on your deathbed (whenever that is) and someone were to offer you 4 years more of life (the difference between 62 and 66). Not at your current age and debilitation, but in the same shape you were when you were 62. How much would that be worth to you? Would it be worth the extra social security you might receive by waiting till you're 66 (if you happen live past 82)? To me I'd pay whatever I had to, to get 4 more months or even weeks of enjoyable life. Who wouldn't? When you choose to retire at 62 rather than 66 that is what you get - 4 more years of live while still young enough to enjoy it. Because if you choose to work those years at an unpleasant job then that time is lost, and regardless how much money you have you can't buy it back.

Well that's what early retirement means to me. Maybe you like your job? Maybe your job is fulfilling and they don't make you work 70-75 hrs a week, being away from your loved ones, living out of a suitcase half the time, while tracking your location constantly with a GPS? If you enjoy what you do, it's rewarding work and you get to sleep home every night, kiss your wife and pet your dog, then go for it and work while you are able. But I'd like to have a few years of enjoyment out of life before I die, living the FT RV lifestyle as a real family for whatever time I have left. Fortunately my DW feels the same and we can't leave soon enough. I hope to see you guys on the road in 202 days. Wish me luck.

Chip

 

Good luck Chip..hope to see you on the road

IMHO It is a personal choice and one must plan for that choice.   My bride and I had a plan and were able to retire “early” her 2 yrs ago at 49 and me just this year at 50. If you want to retire early plan for it, if you want to retire when your 62-67 plan for that as well.