This is a great thread and essential reading for any of us. Even Australians like me, who deal with different products and taxation arrangements.
One things gets me though: so many contributors talk about the financial agony of budgeting for their health care upon early retirement.
As I understand it, most American workers rely on their employers to pay for health care. Or you as an individual pay if self-employed or retired by a certain age.
In Australia we have universal health care, paid for by the Australian Government (and a 1.5 percent Medicare levy on top of income tax rates for most taxpayers). It has some limitations, particularly in areas like dental and choosing your own doctor for an operation, and many of us pay more for private health insurance on top. I pay extra, and will happily do so for the rest of my life.
But retire early here and anyone with any income is covered by generally an excellent health system. In fact, you are covered at any stage of life.
Can I respectfully ask why there is such objection to universal health care in the US?
And in case anyone thinks I am getting political, I ask as someone who (later) worked for the side of politics that (wrongly) opposed the introduction of our Medicare in the 1980s