Healthcare in retirement can cost a lot. After retirement, the cost of healthcare premiums and out-of pocket expenses can become a major burden for the working class.
Recent research has shown that workers plan to work well into old age. 61% of respondents said that they would prefer to work and keep their employer-sponsored health insurance than lose it completely. PwC’s 2019 Employee Wellness Survey found that both Millennials (73%), Generation X (70%), as well as Baby Boomers (61%) are concerned about the future cost of healthcare. This can be done by delaying the time they retire from work.
Health Care Costs in Retirement
Your healthcare costs will rise as you get older. A healthy couple aged 70 years can expect to pay $16,155 annually for their healthcare needs. Healthcare will cost them $34,268 per year by the time they turn 85. These estimates don’t include long-term costs and expenses associated with chronic illnesses.
Pre-existing conditions such as cancer or heart disease are particularly problematic for adults. According to HealthView Services Financial, healthy retirees are more likely to have higher long-term health costs as they live longer.
Inflation, changes in your health insurance coverage and the need to receive more expensive treatment can all lead to an increase in medical costs. These are ways to reduce your retirement healthcare costs.
Live a Healthy Life
You can reduce your retirement healthcare costs by taking good care of yourself. You can save money on your daily medical expenses if you are healthy. It is possible to see the difference in retirement healthcare costs between an extremely healthy person and someone who is not.
But that’s not all. You can avoid high blood pressure and lifestyle diseases by following the instructions of your doctor. Regular exercise, taking your prescribed medication on time, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can all help you stay well into retirement.
Dedicate Annuity income to medical expenses
An annuity can be used to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. This is another way to help you save for your retirement healthcare costs. This strategy, although it might seem counterintuitive at first glance, can reduce the impact of medical expenses on your monthly income. It’s like your own medical emergency fund.
An annuity, an insurance product that pays monthly income to you, is an insurance product. An annuity is a type of pension. It works for as long as you live. Annuities are useful for retirement, as they provide guaranteed income for as long you live.
Retirement Savings Accounts (HSAs),
You can also save for your retirement healthcare costs by opening health savings accounts . HSAs can help you pay for out-of-pocket medical costs during your golden years.
The HSA works in the same way as a regular savings account but with some key differences. The HSA allows you to contribute pretax dollars and then use the money to pay deductibles, copayments or other qualifying medical expenses. You can roll over any money not spent into the next year and invest any money left in your account to ensure long-term growth.
However, not everyone is eligible for an HSA. HSA contributions are not allowed for Medicare recipients. Before opening an HSA, consult a financial advisor. To maximize the tax benefits of an HSA offered by your employer, you might want to contribute as much as possible.
How to Use HSA Funds
There are many ways to spend HSA savings once you have it. You can, for example, use money from your HSA account if you don’t have health insurance after you retire.
You can also use the funds for certain health insurance premiums such as the following:
Long-term care
Healthcare continuation coverage
Medicare
Additional medical coverage
How Health Care Costs will Impact You
It is time to start planning your retirement. You can either hire a financial advisor to help you create a plan that includes health care costs for retirement, or you can use DIY retirement plan software to make your own plan. Budgeting for retirement is crucial. You might not be able enjoy retirement as you desire, or worse, you may run out of money altogether.
The Bottom Line
Planning for your retirement healthcare costs is important. No matter if you have a chronic condition, it is important to reduce your healthcare expenses so that they don’t consume too much of your monthly income. You have many options to help you save money for these expenses, such as delaying retirement, setting aside money in an HSA or annuity, and taking care of yourself. To discuss your options and determine the best way to distribute retirement investments to long-term savings, consult a financial advisor.
