The Roth Conversion That Cost a 62-Year-Old His $9,600 Health Insurance Subsidy

A 62-year-old retiree who had recently converted $40,000 from his traditional IRA to a Roth IRA found himself in a precarious situation. His decision had pushed his modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over the 400% federal poverty line, which eliminated his $9,600 ACA premium tax credit. This is considered one of the most costly mistakes in early retirement, as the ACA subsidy cliff has returned after enhanced protections expired.

The retiree, who had been living on roughly $58,000 a year, had been shopping for health insurance on the ACA marketplace. After running the numbers, it was clear that the entire credit had vanished, leaving him to face a significant financial burden.