I Qualify

 

 

Over the  years, Tony and I have heard about various tax breaks and incentives that were created to save the taxpayers money.  We would go to our tax lady with our fingers crossed, ready to take advantage of the incentive only to find out that due to one small detail buried in the fine print, we didn't qualify. 

 

That happened with taxes, student loans and grants and most of the other things that Washington threw out there to save the middle class money.

 

We grew cynical.  Who wouldn't?  Needless to say, I put little stock in  "Obamacare" or anything insurance related that Washington was pushing in recent times.

 

As I grow older, I find myself getting even  more cynical especially when money is concerned--and age, for that matter.  When I left New York Life to move down here, I could continue my insurance coverage with COBRA at $1,000.00 a month.  I haven't had an insurance claim in over 20 years, but that didn't seem to matter.  In 2012, I got my own insurance  (since I am part time, the hospital does  not offer insurance benefits) which was pricey, but good coverage.

 

A few weeks ago, with my 62nd birthday recently a memory, I was notified that my medical insurance coverage premium was increasing by more than $100.00 per month for 2015.  Same coverage--more bucks.

 

I decided to shop around and had a meeting today with an insurance broker.   We reviewed several plans and I found one that was comparable to what I have now but at a reduced  monthly premium rate once the government tax credit was applied.  Well, forget that, I told myself.  The insurance broker is going to crunch the numbers and tell me that I missed being able to get the tax credit because I make $10.00 over the limit or some ridiculous amount like that.  I waited while he went through the verification and eligibility process.  And now,  the best part--he hit enter and told me that I actually qualified for the tax credit.

 

For 2015, I will be paying less for insurance than I did in 2012.  Go figure--I qualify.  Washington finally put something out there that I can use to save money.  I qualify.  I wanted to run out of the office and into the streets yelling, "I QUALIFY!!!"   I make part time money and won't have to spend full time dollars for insurance because....I QUALIFY!!!

 

For once, retiring in early 2016 seems like a reality.  Thank God, I qualify.