and planning for retirement and health care in your retirement years.
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By Michelle Singletary, Washington Post May 17, 2013
When it comes to
thinking about how much money we all need to retire comfortably, it gives us a
headache. I just need to say that upfront before telling you the latest news,
which is sure to scare you even more about retirement.
You probably know
that health care is likely to be among your largest expenses. But how much?
In its annual look
at medical expenses for retirees, Fidelity Investments said a couple, both 65,
retiring in 2013 would probably need $220,000 to cover health-care expenses if
the husband lives to 82 and the wife to 85, the average life expectancies.
Oh, and in case you’re thinking, “Why yes, that makes
sense if you add in possible nursing-home costs or long-term care expenses” —
think again.
The estimate does
not include those costs. It applies to retirees with traditional Medicare
insurance coverage.
But there’s an
upside. The $220,000 is an 8 percent drop from last year’s $240,000 estimate.
“These numbers
matter because health-care-related costs will eat up a good portion of one’s
savings in retirement, but it seems to be the cost that individuals have the
least amount of awareness of,” said Brad Kimler, executive vice president of
Fidelity Benefits Consulting.
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Tax saving thought - consider an HSA, Health Savings account as a mechanism to force savings for health care costs in your retirement years.
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