January 12, 2026

ACA Premium Shock? Pay Less All Year

18 minutes

ACA premium shock for 2026? If your Marketplace/Obamacare health insurance premium jumped, this video shows 10 practical ways to pay less all year by controlling MAGI (modified adjusted gross income) and avoiding costly income mistakes.

Health insurance is the #1 “elephant in the room” for early retirement. With enhanced ACA subsidies ending after 2025, many early retirees are seeing big premium increases — but the ACA is still income-based, not asset-based, which means you may have more control than you think.

In this episode, I break down:

✅ Why many early retirees still choose ACA/Marketplace plans

✅ How the 400% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) line affects premium tax credits

✅ Why 250% FPL matters for cost-sharing reductions (Silver plans)

✅ 10 specific levers you can use to manage MAGI and pay less — including capital gains control, Roth strategy, cash runway, HSAs, dividend/interest “silent MAGI,” Roth conversion timing, and updating your income during the year

Important: Even after you enroll, you can update your Marketplace income estimate during the year — this can help prevent overpaying (or owing money back at tax time).

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📊 Resources mentioned in this episode:

- Click here for 2025 FPL Tables - ACA Uses the 2025 tables for 2026.

- Click here for the free MAGI Calculator Template (Microsoft Excel download). Use it to estimate your MAGI for ACA plans.

- Click here for the free early retirement checklist, 12 Must-Do Steps to Retire Sonner and Smarter

🎧 My Podcast episodes mentioned in this episode to listen to next:

- Season 1, Episode 4: Health Insurance Options for Early Retirement: What You NEED to Know - goes over the pros and cons of health insurance options for early retirement, including and beyond the ACA

- Season 2, Episode 14: ACA MAGI: How to Calculate & Manage It for Big Savings! - goes over exactly how to calculate your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)

🌐 More from me:

All my videos, podcast episodes, and freebies: https://mikeupland.com

💼 My Favorite Retirement Planning Tool! If you’re serious about planning for retirement, you’ve got to check out Boldin. It’s a powerful tool that helps you map out your financial future—whether you’re a DIY planner or just want to stress-test your retirement strategy.

👉 Try Boldin here: https://go.boldin.com/earlyretirementroadmap

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and reflects my personal experience and research. It is not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making major retirement or financial decisions. I am not responsible for any loss or damages resulting from reliance on this information.

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By Mike Upland

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