An average couple expects to spend just $41,000 on healthcare once they retire, according to a recent survey.
But according to a separate recent study by Fidelity Investments, the average 65-year-old retiring today should expect to spend $157,500 on healthcare costs throughout their retirement, even with Medicare coverage. That's over $300,000 for a couple during their retirement, making the estimate of $41,000 off by a multiple of over seven.
Health Care Insurance for Retirement and the Cost of Medicare
The Medicare Trust Fund, based on projected revenues for the program and costs, is expected to go bankrupt by 2028, without congressional intervention. What typically happens when Congress acts to address the issue of Medicare costs exceeding the money coming in:
Premiums are raised on beneficiaries,
Reimbursement to providers (doctors and hospitals) is cut.
And when reimbursement to providers is cut, this traditionally leads to "access issues" for patients. (Translation of the term "access issues" - it becomes harder for patients to get a timely primary care or specialist doctor's appointment).
The Solution to Health Care Insurance Cost
It is intuitive that the best approach for future retirees is to optimize health and limit, as much as possible, your need for medical services and your future medical costs. With most chronic diseases being preventable, I suggest you learn more about how to optimize your metabolic health and avoid conditions such as prediabetes, diabetes, and hypertension. Most of these conditions can even be reversed with a structured diet, exercise program, and medical management regimen.
I have learned during my 25-year emergency department career that the most important two things people can do to avoid chronic disease are:
Avoid being overweight or obese,
Keep your blood glucose in a normal range.
These are the two conditions Metabolic MD providers focus on most in helping our patients achieve optimal health.
Avoiding a high body mass index prevents a majority of musculoskeletal issues (think back pain, hip pain, and knee pain) and the need for future surgeries associated with these issues. It also helps to avoid the myriad of chronic conditions associated with excess weight including gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular issues, and even cancers.
Maintaining your blood glucose in the normal range helps to prevent vascular diseases such as strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure. This is because high blood sugar directly leads to inflammation of the lining of the arteries. And, of course, maintaining normal blood glucose prevents prediabetes and diabetes.
Metabolic MD has developed a comprehensive approach to preventing and reversing chronic disease. If you are middle-aged and possibly overweight, with a chronic condition, or maybe even none at all, it is time to act to ensure your health in your “golden years”. And, of course, minimize the impact on your health care costs from poor health once you turn 65.
Metabolic MD works with adults of all ages to optimize metabolic health and prevent and reverse metabolic diseases such as prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
You can learn more about how we use technology to achieve data-driven health improvement in my new book “The Continuous Glucose Monitor Revolution”, which is available on Amazon. And please also consider protecting your health and your financial future with a Metabolic MD program.
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