Couples who choose to retire early at 62 rather than waiting until 65 may hope to enjoy a few extra years out of the workforce, but the reality is they could also face more than $50,000 in additional medicals bills, according to a report by Fidelity Investments.
That’s because they will have to pay health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs for the three years before they become eligible for Medicare, which Fidelity estimates would cost about $17,000 a year.
At the same time, for couples who are able and willing to delay retirement until 67, the potential annual cost reduction could be $10,000 a year.
“Rising health care expenses are forcing people to make educated decisions now more than ever, ranging from the services they utilize to the age at which they choose to retire,” said Brad Kimler, executive vice president of Fidelity’s Benefits Consulting business. “So it’s critical that people plan well in advance for the considerable cost of health care by adding it into their overall retirement planning discussions.”
A recent study of more than 1,000 adults ages 55-70 found that pre-retirees planned to retire at an average age of 65.
The 2014 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate showed that even those who retire at that age can expect to incur $220,000 in medical costs during their retirement years.
In light of this daunting prospect, experts urge people to consider tax-advantaged health care savings opportunities outside of a 401(k) or IRA.
Many employers offer high-deductible health plans (HDHP) and health savings accounts (HAS), which Fidelity calls “a powerful health care savings option now and in the future,” as HSAs allow pre-tax dollars that are not spent in any year to carry over and stay invested tax-free for qualified medical expenses in retirement.
Experts also suggest people seek guidance on how to adequately prepare for medical bills incurred during retirement.
