Health Insurance between early retirement and Medicare (65 yrs old)

If you retire early (financially independent):

If you believe you are in good shape, and you rarely need any medical care. In fact, when I have health insurance, I just check in with doctor(blood test, and/or urine test, etc) once a year, every thing goes well for quite many years, I truly believe I have "wasted" a lot of money on health premium over the years. I eat healthy food and exercise regularly, annual physical check is just precaution. Health insurance was required after Affordable Care Act, but there is no penalty without health insurance now. When I have job, health insurance provided employer is not expensive anyway, and I am fine to buy it. Premium is pre-tax money, which makes it look even cheaper.

If your finance is in good shape and decide to retire way before 65 years old, is there a way to buy cheap health insurance? If expensive, I may not buy it every year, in my 50s, I may just buy it every 3 years. How do many people handle health insurance before 65 years old (when not working)?

Thanks.

submitted by /u/VAer1
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