Reinventing Retirement

Rx for Success

Preventive care strategies to help you deal with healthcare expenses in retirement

According to the 2021 Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, an average retired couple age 65 may need approximately $300,000 saved (after tax) to cover health care expenses in retirement. There are several factors behind this escalating cost challenge. In general, people live longer, and health care inflation continues to outpace the rate of general inflation. In addition, according to Gallup’s 2021 Economy and Personal Finance Survey, the average retirement age is 62, which is three years before the Medicare eligibility age of 65.

Understand Timing Trade-Offs

As retirement nears, you will have several big decisions to make, including when to stop working, take Social Security, pay for health care, and generate cash flow from your retirement assets. These decisions are interconnected and could make a difference in your living costs and lifestyle in retirement — and when you can retire.

According to the Social Security Administration, approximately one-third of early retirees who claim Social Security at age 62 do so to help pay for health care expenses until they are eligible for Medicare coverage at age 65. But if you can postpone retirement or save enough to cover health care costs until 65, you may be able to defer your Social Security benefits. Generally speaking, the longer you can wait until age 70 to take Social Security benefits, the more you can collect.

Save as Much as You Can

Now is the time to save as much as possible. Especially if you are within ten years of retirement; in 2022, if you are within those ten years, you can contribute up to $20,500. If your age is 50 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of up to $6,500, totaling $27,000. If you can’t save that much, make sure you are saving enough to get your full employer match if offered.

Take Advantage of a Health Savings Account

 If you have access to a health savings account (HSA) through your employee benefits, use them to your advantage! They are a financially intelligent way to set aside money for expenses related to your health. Contributions reduce your taxable income, and earnings growth and qualified withdrawals are also tax-free. Many programs allow you to invest your HSA money once you hit a certain threshold. These programs make it a great way to save for future health expenses during retirement. For 2022, you can contribute a maximum of $3,650 (individual coverage) and $7,300 (family). For those age 55 or older, the Internal Revenue Service allows an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000.

Rx Retrospective

Rx is commonly known as the symbol for a medical prescription. However, the symbol derives from the Latin word “recipere” or “to take.” The term was later abbreviated to become Rx as we know it today.

OSC wants to take care of any stress you have when making these life-changing decisions. We know retirement, and we help people every day to make retirement as easy of a process as possible.