As a retirement planner, when I talk with clients about "retiring early" I am referring to retirement before age 65. Age 65 has long been considered a "normal retirement age," primarily because that's when Medicare eligibility begins.
There are plenty of people who will work until 65 or even beyond, but for those who want to retire before being eligible for Medicare, health insurance is often one of the biggest concerns and expenses during that transition from employment to retirement. For those who are fortunate to have retiree medical benefits, the transition may not be too stressful. With fewer and fewer companies offering medical benefits to retirees, there are two main healthcare options I explore with clients who need health coverage prior to age 65 due to an early retirement: