Planning for health care costs at every stage of retirement planning

Key Takeaways:

• Health care is likely one of the largest potential costs that many of your clients will have in retirement.
• You will likely be dealing with clients at all different stages of retirement planning
• We dive into different tools and strategies to help your clients plan for health care costs in retirement

Health care is likely one of the largest costs that many of your clients will have in retirement. According to Fidelity’s recent health care cost estimate, a couple retiring today needs approximately $300,000 to cover medical expenses¹. Clients may underestimate their health care expenses in retirement, or these discussions might not be at the top of their minds. Knowing this information, you can arm yourself with different insights and tools to help your clients with their health costs at every stage of retirement planning.

While having the discussion about health care costs in retirement is important, you will likely be dealing with clients at all different stages of their retirement planning. Whether your clients are in their early career, mid-career, pre-retirement (50+), or early retirement, we’ll dive into different potential strategies and conversation starters you can have with your clients to help with their health care cost planning.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

According to Nationwide’s 2021 Health Care Costs in Retirement Consumer Survey, more than a third of working adults 25+ (35%) have an HSA available and are contributing to it. Out of this number, the majority (61%) plan to use their HSA to pay for today’s health care expenses only². This presents a conversation opening to talk to your clients about using their HSA as a potential investment opportunity. Not only can they use it as a potential investment vehicle, but it is also a tax-efficient way to save for their future health care costs in retirement.

Our white paper on Health Savings Accounts dives deep into key features and benefits, how to use an HSA, different HSA scenarios, and more.

Long-term care cost planning

When it comes to long-term care, your clients may underestimate these costs and not be prepared. According to our 2021 Nationwide Long-Term Care Consumer Survey, more than 6 in 10 are uncertain about costs as they relate to specific long-term care options³. As a financial professional, you can provide knowledge to your clients to help them prepare.

There are many benefits to helping your clients with long-term care planning now.

Some of these benefits include:

• Helping the client decide the type of long-term care they will receive, as well as the quality of that care
• Preserving assets for their loved ones
• Creating relationships and trust with their family, further helping protect the physical and emotional health of the caregivers.

As your clients are thinking of the options for long-term care, the thought of a traditional nursing facility comes to mind, but there are many options related to long-term care including In home health care, assisted living, and nursing homes.

While working with your clients, you can utilize our long-term care cost assessment tool to help them plan for these costs.

Reducing taxable income close to retirement

As your clients get closer to retirement, you should consider having discussions on how to reduce their taxable income in their retirement years. While you don’t have to be an expert on taxes, it is important for you to understand how taxes can have an impact their retirement.

Some benefits of a tax-efficient retirement income strategy may include:

• Adding years to the life of their retirement portfolio
• Improving their after-tax income
• Adding value to their estate planning to help their beneficiaries

Our white-paper provides tips on how you can build tax-efficient retirement income plans to help your clients. Assisting your clients with these strategies could provide them with more income in retirement to be able to pay for their health care expenses.

Planning for early retirement health care costs

You may encounter a situation with your clients where they retire earlier than when they are eligible to receive Medicare. At this point, they will need to figure out their health care options and how they are going to pay for them.

There are a few different choices when determining their health care options⁴ :

• Finding out if they are eligible for a COBRA plan (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) from their former employer
• Having their spouse add them to their retirement plan through their current employer
• Exploring health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act federal exchange or their state-based marketplace is available

If your client retires earlier than expected, they will likely also need to figure out how to pay for these expenses. One option is a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA). This will begin income payments soon after your client makes an initial lump sum investment, which makes them a good option for people who are ready to begin their retirement.

What your clients can do beyond 65

You don’t have to be a Medicare expert to know the basics to help get the discussion started with your clients. Medicare comes with premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance, so it’s good for your clients to know what to expect so they can plan for their costs accordingly. Your clients will become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. There are a few options when it comes to coverage.

• Option 1 is Original Medicare which includes Part A + B, as well as Part D for your prescriptions.
• Option 2 is a Medicare Advantage plan, also known as Medicare Part C.

We have a full Medicare 101 guide that goes over the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), Medicare costs, Medicare options, as well as Medicare resources.

Make sure your clients are prepared for health care costs, whatever their retirement journey is

As we discussed above, health care costs in retirement can really add up. It is smart to have these conversations with your clients now, so they understand the potential costs associated with health care in retirement and are prepared for whatever comes their way.