Unexpected Expenses and Releasing Worry

Today I arrived home after a full, but surprisingly stress free day at work to find a “not a bill” from my insurance company. This document which stated that it was “not a bill” on the front page said that I owed $361 and change for a procedure I had in November that the insurance company assured me was completely covered. This made me unreasonably angry and resulted in me calling the insurance company and emailing/texting several people for information. Apparently I can’t contest this document, its supposed charge and the multiple pieces of incorrect information it holds until I receive the “real” bill. In the grand scheme of things even if I was lied to and end up having to pay these charges this seemed to represent a larger problem that’s been in the back of my mind: unexpected costs.

When I was early in this journey, my worried brain came up with so many scenarios and issues that could arise when I’m FI in 10 years. To combat this I began frantically finding answers to all the potential issues my incessant mind would dream up. Tax law for investment only income, RMDs that apply when I reach 70 1/2 years old and a litany of other issues that are years if not decades away when I realized something. When I reach financial independence my time will be my own. And my only real job will be to learn about and tackle any issues I may face. My continuous worrying has been my unwelcome friend for as long as I remember and in this instance I had to show it the door, or a temporary off ramp. There will be a time to face all obstacles head on and there is nothing to be gained by worrying about them now.

In Early Retirement my only job will be to support myself and my happiness. There will be all the time in the world to explore alternate options of doing absolutely anything, options that as a working person I claim to not have time to consider since time is my most precious commodity. If I have an expensive medical issue I will shop around to find the best price, including entertaining the idea of medical tourism and visiting other countries where the healthcare is as good if not better than in the US and much more fairly priced. One of my favorite video bloggers once explained medical tourism in that for the price of a hip replacement surgery in the US you could fly to Europe on Business Class, have the same surgery, stay there on holiday for three months and fly back. For the exact same price. That becomes a simple option in ER. Another blogger I enjoy just had a procedure done in Taiwan for 80% less than it costs in the States.

Along these same lines if I want to travel it will be my only job to do that in the most cost effective and efficient way possible, usually through travel hacking or even simply traveling during weekdays and times that working people usually don’t, which results in better prices.  And if I receive an unexpected healthcare expense, I will research and find a way to contest and beat it. If tax season is coming up and I am still not completely clear, my only job will be to research and understand the taxes on my money. There is no reason to worry. And I’ll try to banish my affliction going forward.