Also, just so happen I did end up in the hospital three weeks later because something happened that affected my breathing for an entire year.

And how do you “go back to work” if the entire reason you need to go back to work is that you have a health condition?

If you haven’t checked, jobs aren’t that easy to come by quickly in 2026 in tech like they use to be. Sure I could find someone to give me a contract if not hire me full time - but we are still back to not having insurance .

The US messing up insurance on the open market is the concern and it being back like it was pre ACA. That only affects the unemployed under 65.

As far as being between jobs - usually you can get COBRA for a limited amount of time - not an option for FIRE.

Oh yeah, that brings up another point, I did pay for COBRA for two months back then. The contract I had paid more than enough to afford it. Then the acquiring company shut down their insurance plan and COBRA wasn’t even an option