The Clark Howard Podcast 12.23.25 Ask An Advisor With Wes Moss
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Dec 23, 2025 
Wes Moss, a certified financial planner and investment advisor, shares vital insights on affordable healthcare for early retirees. He reveals how one woman dramatically reduced her COBRA costs from $2,500 to under $200 using ACA subsidies. Wes also discusses the implications of recent Fed rate cuts, clarifying misconceptions about future mortgage rates. Listeners can benefit from his advice on retirement planning, managing wealth, and strategic decisions around Social Security, all while addressing your burning financial questions.
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Widow Saved Big Using ACA Exchange
- Wes tells Rebecca's story: a young widow offered $2,500/month COBRA who thought she had to return to full-time work for insurance.
- After exploring the ACA, her true premium fell to about $190/month thanks to enhanced subsidies.
Run ACA Subsidy Estimates Before Choosing Coverage
- Use healthcare.gov and the Kaiser Family Foundation tools to estimate ACA premium subsidies for your household.
- Be accurate with projected income because subsidy reconciliations at tax time can require repayment if you overstate.
Enhanced ACA Subsidies Are Temporary
- Enhanced ACA subsidies expanded eligibility beyond the historical 100–400% federal poverty limit during COVID, reducing premiums for many.
- Those enhanced subsidies are set to sunset after 2025, so future costs may rise back toward pre-expansion levels.