On: Our Ridiculous Approach to Retirement

[uncr3ative]

I think at an older age, when you are more likely to have health problems, 31k is probably not enough.

[JoshTriplett → uncr3ative]

Sum up the premiums on your insurance, as well as the maximum out-of-pocket expenses on that insurance, and you have a good estimate for your maximum medical expenses in a year; you should get a number that comfortably fits in a 31k budget. Insurance exists to make medical costs predictable and budgetable.

[corbet → JoshTriplett]

...but anybody who thinks that health insurance provides any such guarantee (in the US) has never dealt with serious medical problems.

[JoshTriplett → corbet]

Hence why I said "good estimate" rather than "absolute maximum". However, the kinds of problems that health insurance won't buffer for you will generally screw you whether you have 31k/year or 131k/year.

[aaronblohowiak → JoshTriplett]

>Sum up the premiums on your insurance

Nah, sum up the premiums on what your insurance would cost at retirement age.