Experts Question Fidelity Estimate of Retiree Health Costs
An annual estimate released last week by Fidelity Investments that 65-year-old couples who retire without employer-sponsored health insurance will require an average of $200,000 to cover out-of-pocket health care costs during retirement is inadequate, according to many financial experts and other observers, the Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, retirees might require twice the amount estimated by Fidelity based on longer future life expectancy. EBRI estimates that 65-year-old couples who retire without employer-sponsored health insurance will require $216,000 if they live to age 80, $444,000 if they live to age 90 and $778,000 if they live to age 100.
In addition to longer future life expectancy, financial experts said that the Fidelity estimate did not include the cost of over-the-counter medications, most dental care and long-term care, or expected increases in Medicare premiums (Wall Street Journal, 3/11).