I knew a year ago my insurance would not go into 2014 because it did not meet all key elements of the minimum essential services of the Affordable Care Act. I got my cancellation letter last week but I expected it. The cancellation was probably due to my $7,500 deductible. I pay $536 a month. The premium on a similar plan, offered to me by my current provider along with my cancellation letter, would have been $788 a month.

When I compared that to what I could get on the exchange without a subsidy, I would have still gone to the exchange. It was still cheaper than what they were offering. With a subsidy, of course, it's not even a race.

I went on to select a Blue Cross Blue Shield gold plan with a $1,200 deductible. It would have been $840, but I got a subsidy because my income stream is down. My net cost will be $276 a month.

That's a lot for some people, but for me, it's a huge reduction. I'm saving a lot of money. And if I get sick, I save even more because of the vastly reduced deductible.

I'm very pleased. I already paid for it. Now I'm set for 18 months until I can apply for Medicare.