8 Tips for Paying for Health Care in Retirement

Reader Comments
Back to article

I found a great video series about this subject. It asks people how it would impact their lives if thier parents lost their healthcare benefits and then takes it a step further asking how it would impact them if their parents had to MOVE IN with them because they lost their healthcare. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kFwxmD3P4&feature=channel_video_title

Katie of NY 10:48AM December 05, 2011

I was wondering if there is any way a retired peson can pay their medical
insurance and medical bills with pretax dollars.
It does'nt seem rigt that it should only be available to people who are
still employed.

Kevin McGuire of MN 2:44PM November 03, 2011

Reading these repsonses I can't imagine living with your health-care "system"! Our National Medicare system that covers everyone is not perfect in many ways. It does not cover drugs, eyeglasses, physiotherapy (unless in a hospital setting), etc. You cannot just call up a specialist for diagnosis or opinion without your family doc's referral and often the wait may be many months. However, EVERYONE has equal coverage for physician and hospital treatment of serious illnesses and life-threatening diseases. We can also buy private health insurance with additional benefits (private room in a hospital, drugs, eyeglasses, etc.). It is high time the USA had a way to provide medical care for all its citizens.

vivian 12:29AM March 15, 2010

$600.00 a month? What are you complaining about? My husband is self-employed and if we were able to keep the same insurance we had 4 years ago, it would cost over $1700 a month, and we have no dependents. Each year we get a poorer plan, with a higher deductible. $3500. each deductible per year, no dental, eye, or prescriptions, and they will not cover any pre-existing conditions. And it costs about $800.00 a month. My husband takes over-the-counter prevacid, so they will not cover ANYTHING to do with his digestive system. That is a lot of your organs...We are in our late 50's and have several years before we can get medicare. We try to stay healthy because we cannot afford to be sick or injured.
Granted, we need health care reform, but the way they are shoving through this poorly crafted bill is appalling. Something this important should take more time. BTW, while the benefits don't start for several years, the taxes will start much sooner. And if you have a health savings account to cover your out of pocket health expenses, as I understand it, that deduction will disappear on your tax bill. Thank you Congress for making such a spectacle of this whole issue. I wish you would slow down and get it right.

anonymous of PA 2:59PM December 23, 2009

$600/year in premiums? Realy? Not to be rude but complaining about a $50/month premium seems a llitle odd compared to the numbers mentioned in the article. I pay more than that through my company - and I work for a Fortune 500 company (no bailouts) with a great health care package.
And have you talked to anyone in the grear 'Canadian/Europe system'? I have and to the person the people I talked to about it would rather be in the American 'system'.
And how is this paid for? You think we have a defecit problem now just wait for this wonderful new health care system. It will affect you despite all of the nonsense and BS coming from Washington
Anyway - Hopefully my family will be blessed with a $50/moth premium when we retire.

Steve M of TX 2:55PM December 16, 2009

I am semi-retired. I work seasonally for the government. Because I am not 65 and we still have a college aged student at home, my wife works a full time nursing job. It was not a huge issue until recently when she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. She isn't complaining, but it seems so inconsistent that some employees take insurance into retirement, while others are left to fend for themselves. My wife may need to stay home if her situation deteriorates, but there is no option for insurance now with her employer. Our college aged son is autistic and insurance for him without college is a very difficult problem. We are not in the same situation as some respondents I have seen on this site, but health insurance is a continual stress for us. I know only a few people(those on medicare of federal workers) who do not have major concerns here. If we are stressed and we have insurance, what about the millions who have no coverage? Do we really need a "system" where one's age or former employer dictate your health coverage? We need some fairness in our system for all of us.

alan k of KS 12:37PM December 16, 2009

These personal dilemmas demonstrate how we need some simplicity and equity in our so-called medical care "system". What we have today is designed for the benefit of insurance companies and politicians.
It seems that the only way we will get change is to "throw the rascals out" and keep on throwing them out until they do the people's will.

JOHN C of TX 7:33AM December 16, 2009

My husband just turned 65 in Sept. We did all the "homework" we could do and finally settled on First Health (in Missouri). The premium was $27.00/mo. we don't use any Rx drugs (thank God!) Then yesterday we get a thick parcel in the mail with a new premium for Jan.1st--$ 50+dollars! WE can see a few dollars increase- but this?? It's almost a 100% increase! AND it's more than the states of Florida, Calif., etc! We called and got the runaround but no good reason for the drastic increase-and only in our "conservative state"- (and Iowa) does it seem the increases are so high!.
That's another reason why- though we have insurances- we ARE for a change and a single payer SYSTEM or even for a Canadian/Europe system- call it what they will!! Military, congressmen,etc, all have govt involvement and they're grinning- so let's get everyone on board! Hopefully our Medigap won't increase in the same way!!

patricia gillette of MO 6:59PM October 27, 2009

I am a 62 year old divorced woman, I was divorced 11 years ago. When I was divorced I lost my health insurance since it was through my husbands union,when I tried to buy insurance for myself it was so expensive I could not afford it. Then 4 years ago I came down with Chronic pancreatitus, and no I am not a drinker never have been it came out of nowhere. It financially devestated me to the tune of $65,000. And since it is chronic I live with it every day and have to see a Doctor on a regular basis. Two months ago I found out I have Conjestive Heart failure a potentally fatal desease, I cant even go to the Heart specialist, my doctor sent me to because I do not have the money to pay cash when I am seen plus the cost of the test. I was turned down for SSI with the pancreatitus so I cluld not get medicare, I have worked since I was 15 years old and I am going to die probably because I do not have insurance and I am not 65 and can not get medicare,I am praying every day that President Obama does something for me soon.If I had medicare I would go where I had to to find a Doctor that would take it, and be greatful for it.

Rita Shea of MS 2:30PM June 18, 2009

Just reading the delima from across the states, I think Corporate America has wasted itself into no-man's land period.
We sure do need a new impove or improvised health plan for all
the common workers whose lives had been falsly trusted under the care of all unions and corporate America. No wonder the Europeans laugh at us Americans. They have been working for a different type of health care plan since the end of World War II. And at this point, they are wondering if we will ever get out of the hole we have dug ourselves into since then.
As for retired payments - I'm lucky if I will receive all 4 different types that I have put into since I was in my twenties, let alone the cost of living that keeps hiking up and up out of now where!

unknown of CA 9:11PM June 02, 2009