Boomers Hope Medicare Will Cover Health Care Costs

Most boomers haven’t factored health care and long-term care costs into their retirement savings goals, which could cause big problems down the road.

That’s according to a survey of 804 Americans between the ages of 56 and 72, released by the Insured Retirement Institute, an organization that includes insurers, asset managers and 150,000 financial professionals.

The survey found that 75 percent of boomers have not factored health care costs into their retirement savings goals, and 85 percent haven’t included long-term care costs. Even for the 29 percent of boomers who consult with a financial adviser, only 52 percent have included health care and 36 percent have included long-term care in their planning.

Of those who haven’t factored in those costs, 70 percent are counting on Medicare to cover their health care expenses, even though a 2018 study by HealthView Services found that a couple who retired last year at age 65 faced $363,946 for premiums and out-of-pocket costs during the remainder of their lives.

And 50 percent expect Medicare to cover their long-term care, even though, as the program’s website explains, it doesn’t cover most nonmedical long-term costs, such as help with daily living activities.

Many others — 63 percent for health care costs and 43 percent for long-term care costs — said they are unsure of the costs or don’t know how to calculate them.

“There’s a complexity and enormity to calculating those sort of expenses that could be contributing to this sort of ‘I’ll just hope for the best’ type of attitude,” said Frank O’Connor, IRI’s vice president of research and outreach.

O’Connor estimated that over a 20-year period, a couple might have to save an additional $5,700 each year to cover their late-life health care costs, factoring in the investment return.

Also on AARP

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• Many pre-medicare adults worry about paying for health care