Healthcare After Retirement: Navigating Medicare and Financial Planning for Your Peace of Mind

Health care costs in retirement can substantially impact your savings. Costs like premiums, deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs and medical services can add up very quickly.

In fact, recent studies show that the average couple retiring at age 65 may need up to $315,000 to cover healthcare expenses throughout their retirement years. Failing to account for these costs is a common retirement planning mistake. It can lead to financial strain and may require you to make difficult choices between healthcare and other essential expenses in your retirement planning.

Today, we’re discussing Medicare, what it covers, and—most importantly—what it costs, so you can proactively address and incorporate healthcare costs into your retirement planning strategy.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a government-run health insurance plan intended to cover people aged 65 and above, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities or particular health issues. It helps beneficiaries pay for various healthcare services, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs.

Medicare has some eligibility requirements. If you meet these requirements, you can enroll in Medicare when you turn 65 or during specific enrollment periods.

To be eligible for Medicare, you must meet certain criteria:

• Age: You must be 65 years or older. If you are under 65, you may qualify if you have a disability or specific health conditions, such as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
• Citizenship: To be eligible for Medicare, you must either be a citizen of the United States or have been a legal permanent resident of the country for a minimum of five years in a row.
• Work History: You or your spouse must have worked long enough and paid Medicare taxes to qualify. Generally, you must have worked for at least ten years (40 quarters).

Medicare Enrollment Periods

Understanding the different enrollment periods and deadlines can help you avoid late enrollment penalties. It can also help you enroll for the coverage you need when you become eligible for it.

There are several enrollment periods for Medicare, each with its own rules and deadlines:

1. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is open during the seven months around your 65th birthday. It begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birth month, and extends for an additional three months after your birthday. Throughout this time, you have the opportunity to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B, as well as select a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or a Prescription Drug plan (Part D).
2. General Enrollment Period (GEP): If you missed the opportunity to enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period and don’t meet the criteria for a Special Enrollment Period, you can still sign up between January 1 and March 31 each year. If you enroll during this time, your coverage will start the following month.
3. Special Enrollment Period (SEP): You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you delayed enrolling in Medicare because you or your spouse had group health coverage through an employer or union. You can enroll in Medicare without penalty for up to eight months after you lose your group health coverage or your employment ends.
4. Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): From October 15 to December 7 each year, you have the option to transition from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, change from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different one, enroll in a Prescription Drug plan, switch between Prescription Drug plans, or completely terminate your Prescription Drug coverage. This is also referred to as the Open Enrollment Period.

Medicare Costs

Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments can add up quickly, making it crucial to factor these expenses into your budget. So, how much will Medicare cost per month?

The amount you’ll pay for Medicare depends on several factors, including the parts of Medicare you enroll in, your income, and whether you enroll during the designated enrollment periods.

Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospital stays. Most beneficiaries who have worked and contributed Medicare taxes for a minimum of 40 quarters (equivalent to 10 years) are eligible for premium-free Part A coverage. However, if you haven’t worked long enough, you may need to pay a premium.

The standard Part B premium, which covers medical services and preventive care, is $174.70 per month in 2024, but higher-income earners may pay more. There’s also a 10% late-enrollment penalty for each year you were eligible for Part B but didn’t enroll.

Part D premiums, which cover prescription drug costs, vary by plan and income level. If you go without prescription drug coverage for 63 days or more in a row after your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you may face a late enrollment penalty when you eventually sign up for coverage. This fine is determined by the duration of how long you went without creditable coverage and remains a part of your monthly Part D premium forever.

There’s also a late-enrollment penalty for Part D. This penalty is 1% for each eligible month you didn’t sign up for Part D.

Out-of-Pocket Costs, Including Deductibles, Copayments, and Coinsurance

In addition to monthly premiums, Medicare beneficiaries are responsible for various out-of-pocket costs. These include deductibles, which are the amounts you must pay before Medicare starts covering services, and copayments or coinsurance, which are the portions of medical bills you’ll pay after meeting your deductible.

For example, in 2024, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,632 per benefit period, and you’ll pay coinsurance for extended hospital stays. You must pay this deductible before being admitted to a hospital each benefit period.

The Part B deductible is $240 per year, after which you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services.

Prescription drug plans (Part D) also have deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that vary by plan.

Medicare Coverage

Medicare offers a range of health insurance coverage options to help beneficiaries manage their medical expenses in retirement. The program is divided into several parts, each covering specific types of services.

It’s important to note that while Medicare covers a wide range of services, there are some gaps in coverage. For example, Original Medicare (Part A and B) does not cover long-term care, routine dental or vision care, or hearing aids. Understanding what Medicare does and doesn’t cover can help you make informed decisions about your healthcare needs and whether you may require additional insurance to fill any coverage gaps.

It should also be noted that coverage and costs vary by plan and may have network restrictions

Here’s a breakdown of coverage by part:

Part A (Hospital Insurance):

• Inpatient hospital stays
• Skilled nursing facility care
• Hospice care
• Some home healthcare

Part B (Medical Insurance):

• Outpatient care
• Preventive services (e.g., annual wellness visits, flu shots)
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Doctor’s services

Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage):

• Helps cover the cost of prescription medications
• Run by private insurance companies approved by Medicare

Medicare Advantage (Part C):

• Alternative way to receive Part A and B benefits
• Often includes additional coverage for dental, vision, and prescription drugs
• May offer extra benefits like gym memberships or transportation to medical appointments

Planning for Healthcare Costs in Retirement

As you approach retirement, including healthcare costs in your financial planning is crucial. With the right strategies and tools, you can better prepare for expected and unexpected medical expenses, ensuring you have the funds to maintain your health and well-being throughout your golden years and be ready for retirement.

Some positive ways of planning for healthcare costs in retirement include:

Estimating Healthcare Costs in Retirement

One of the first steps in planning for healthcare costs in retirement is to estimate them ahead of time. To get a more personalized estimate of your potential care costs in retirement, consider factors such as your current health status, family medical history, and lifestyle habits. You can also use online tools and calculators to help you project your healthcare expenses based on your specific situation.

Using Strategies to Save for Healthcare Expenses

Developing a savings strategy to help you prepare for these expenses is important. One popular option is to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) if you’re enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. HSAs offer a triple tax advantage: contributions are tax-deductible, the account grows tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free. However, HSAs are not available once you enroll in Medicare. So, while they may be able to help you save money leading up to retirement, once you enroll in Medicare, they’re no longer an option.

You can also use other retirement savings vehicles, such as 401(k)s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), to save for healthcare costs. By increasing your contributions to these accounts and allocating a portion of your savings specifically for healthcare expenses, you can help ensure you have the funds available when needed.

Finding Supplemental Insurance

Even with Medicare coverage, you may still face significant out-of-pocket costs. To help cover these expenses, many retirees opt for supplemental insurance, also known as Medigap. Private insurance firms offer Medigap policies, which are intended to complement Original Medicare (Part A and B) by providing additional coverage.

There are ten standardized Medigap plans, each offering a different level of coverage. These plans can help pay for expenses like Medicare deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, as well as some services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as up to 80% of billed charges for emergency medical care while traveling abroad. When considering a Medigap policy, it’s important to compare the benefits and plan premiums of different options to find the best fit for your needs and budget.