The high cost of a healthy life
In retirement, good health is a very costly condition. That’s the conclusion of a new study comparing total health care costs for retirees with various health conditions. While healthy retirees have much lower monthly medical expenses than those with serious conditions such as diabetes or cancer, their longer life expectancies mean that they actually need […]
5 smart ways to cut health care costs in retirement
Q: I’m about to sign up for Medicare, and I know there are gaps in the coverage. How much should I expect to spend for medical expenses after I retire? How can I reduce those costs? A: Even though Medicare will take care of a big portion of your medical expenses after you retire, you’ll […]
Plan ahead to cover retiree health care costs
By Susan B. Garland, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report When you draw up a retirement-spending budget, you’re likely to account for utilities, car insurance and lawn care. But have you given the cost of health care a hard look–or are the numbers too scary to contemplate? One of the most important moves pre-retirees can make is to […]
Childless seniors need to build a safety net
By Susan B. Garland, Kiplinger Retirement Report Childless and divorced, Linda Wiesman, 67, is apprehensive about her future. With two knee replacements, the retired accountant is having trouble negotiating the stairs in her three-story townhouse in Gaithersburg, Md. Wiesman says she and several friends who live in different cities have “seriously thought of communal living” […]
What People Really Want to Know About Medicare
By Janet Bodnar, Kiplinger Personal Finance The likelihood that high-income recipients will see a major hike in their Part B premiums in 2016 is adding to the general angst and confusion that often goes along with enrolling in Medicare. Contributing editor Kim Lankford, our insurance specialist and author of our Ask Kim column, says she […]
4 secrets to buying long-term care insurance
By Eleanor Laise, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report For aging baby boomers, planning for long-term care costs becomes more pressing every day. But the insurance that helps cover those costs is surging in price, while the benefits are becoming skimpier. As costs rise, health care experts are engaging in a fierce debate about whether the coverage is […]
Plan for a long life when saving for retirement
By Jane Bennett Clark, Kiplinger Personal Finance If we knew we’d die tomorrow, we’d be rich today. Literally. With only one day to live, a nest egg of $100,000 would be enough to take a trip around the world (at lightning speed), buy a Tesla, or live in the lap of luxury for a few […]
More than Bridge and Bingo
Retirement communities are no longer homes for the old folks By Karen Schwartz Walk into the independent living apartments of The Admiral at the Lake continuing care retirement community (CCRC) on the North Side of Chicago, and you’ll see beautifully appointed one-, two- and three-bedroom units, some with an expansive view of Lake Michigan. The […]