Retirement planning means balancing financial security with health and longevity.
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Many retirees report that good health is one of the most important factors for their happiness in retirement. In addition, avoiding or mitigating expensive medical conditions can help you save precious time and money. For example, a recent survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute reports that 71% of respondents are terrified about what healthcare costs can do to their retirement savings. As a result, it’s important to have a robust plan in place to maintain and even improve your health and manage your medical issues.
My wife and I are in our early 70s, and we’re finding that we’re spending much more time on health-related activities compared to our earlier years. We joke that we now have many “ologists” in our lives. When we were younger, we both often took our health for granted and visited doctors only when we were sick or had some medical condition that needed addressing.
Now we’ve developed scrupulous plans that help us be proactive about our health. We want to be as healthy as possible, given our age and medical conditions. Our plans take up a lot of our time, and they’re just as comprehensive as our plans for financial security in retirement. Let’s look at some possible different components of your retirement health plan.
Be Serious About Lifestyle Decisions
The foundations of your health and longevity in retirement are nutrition, exercise, sleep habits, eliminating unhealthy habits, and reducing stress. However, there are other elements that you may not have thought of that can impact your overall health and longevity, such as your social engagement and the health of your eyes, ears, and teeth.
Fortunately, when you’re retired, you’ll have more time to spend making lifestyle changes that can help maintain and improve all aspects of your health.
Develop An Early Warning System
It’s a good idea to work with your health professionals to set up an ongoing series of blood tests and screenings that can measure your vulnerability to common conditions for older people, such as heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and frailty. Be sure to save the results of each test so you can compare changes over time.
You might also periodically take your own measurements with a blood pressure monitor and smart watch, which can help monitor your heart health and the quality of your sleep.
Build Your Health Care Team
When you’re younger, you may have only needed a primary care physician (PCP) to cover all pertinent health issues. As you age into your 60s and beyond, however, you’ll most likely need a few specialists, such as a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, dermatologist, audiologist, ophthalmologist, and so on. For structural ailments, orthopedic doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors can be particularly helpful.
For conditions you might be vulnerable to based on your family history and/or current conditions, consider asking your PCP for a referral to help establish a relationship and take baseline measurements. Establishing relationships early may help you more easily mitigate any issues in the future.
As you’re building your health care team, don’t forget to consider including your spouse, family, and friends. They might help you in your later years by driving you to doctors’ appointments and serving as another pair of eyes and ears during your appointments.
Make Conscious Choices Regarding Health Insurance
If you retire before you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, you’ll want to obtain a health insurance policy with premiums you can afford based on your budget. Once you reach age 65, you’ll want to make an informed choice between Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage by considering your goals and circumstances. You’ll also want to avoid common Medicare traps for the unwary by researching Medicare and the options available to you.
If you begin to develop issues that are affecting your health, talk with other people your age, such as your spouse, friends, and family. Most likely you’ll find that they’re dealing with various health issues, too, and they may have insights and ideas that can help you with yours. At the very least, you may find a sympathetic listener.
This post offers an overall gameplan, but there are many details that go along with each of these ideas that you’ll want to explore. Spend the time it takes to carefully build your health care plan, which can help reduce your stress and worry about your health. Then go enjoy your retirement!
