...and most of them have lots of old photos!

These must either be: A) very recent developments or B) flawed results in some way. I had T-mobile for years pre-pandemic & it worked almost nowhere I went in VT; places where folks with Verizon could usually get signal.

The low-premium/high-deductible plans only really make sense for people who don't need much care/meds on an annual basis. In this case, insurance is more for when something goes unexpectedly wrong. The amounts saved in premiums approach the deductible such that, if you don't have any major issues, you can save more than the deductible over time.

Of course, the income assistance is meant to bridge that gap & I'm sorry you got denied without explanation. There may be a way to recover funds incorrectly levied. Small consolation now but worth asking about.

Yeah, I actually go with bronze, too. If you consider the difference in premiums over the course of a year, it's a huge savings if you just get an occasional check-up.

It's not like you get any less access to treatment... just that you have to cover more of it before insurance fully kicks in (you still get covid/flu vaccines & obv. preventative stuff free). We're still just talking single-digit or $10k-ish out-of-pocket, so keep some savings (HSA maybe) handy.

The folks suggesting a traditional IRA in addition to your 401k have a good point -- if you can save a bit more for retirement & deduct it from taxes, you can save even more on premiums. Though I think it "scales" rather than "cliffs". Good luck!

Also, if you're generally healthy & don't need much in the way of meds, consider going with a silver plan. You'd pay higher deductibles if you need serious care, but save a bundle on premiums if not. You'll still get a chance to change plans at the end of each year if you develop some ongoing need where gold makes sense.