In Retirement Risks

While not every possible emergency can be anticipated or planned for, there are some common ones that have proven to have devastating effects in the past.

Health insurance is an absolute must not only to provide you with quality care in the event of a medical emergency, but to prevent all kinds of financial issues if something major happens. A devastating medical expense such as cancer treatment, major surgery, etc. could mean having to file bankruptcy unless you have insurance to cover these expenses.  And the older you are, the more likely you are to have a serious medical issue.

If you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time, you will discover that it is much more complex than an employer-sponsored group health plan.¹

When you are enrolled in Medicare, you pay multiple premiums for multiple types of coverage (Parts A and B as well as the Part D prescription drug plan), and unlike a group health plan, there are no caps on out-of-pocket costs and a risk that you might have to pay a hospital insurance deductible more than once per year. Original Medicare also does not cover some costs that many seniors would like to cover, such as dental and vision care expenses.^2,3

This is why so many retirees decide to buy Medigap policies or enroll in comprehensive Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans – they recognize the shortcomings of original Medicare. The downside of Part C plans is that you are restricted to the doctors in their networks. Original Medicare allows you to choose any doctor that accepts Medicare (though it is smart to have a Medigap policy as well).^1,3

You can freely switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another in the open enrollment period; you can also enroll in one without having to go through underwriting. If you want to move from a Part C plan back into original Medicare, you may not be able to supplement Parts A and B with a Medigap plan right away because underwriting will be required.^3,4

Whether you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time or considering a change in coverage, it is vital to understand these matters. If you have questions, call us.

Having the proper personal insurance plan is also critical to maintaining your lifestyle. Things happen outside your control and in the blink of an eye an accident or casualty event could destroy you financially.

You have worked hard for a lot of years to acquire the things that you have:  your home, cars, collections, savings, etc.  Don't let those things be taken away from you in an instant.

In the past, a lot of the risk associated with retirement income planning was on the shoulders of other parties (employers - pensions, government - social security).

Both 401(k)s and IRAs can be beneficial ways to save for retirement and have provided flexibility during the accumulation phase, but now as people transition into the distribution phase of retirement with these accounts, the risk falls primarily on the retiree.

One of the major concerns is longevity risk - the risk of outliving their savings in retirement.

Now that retirement is a reality, you need to have a plan to deal with the eventuality of needing Long Term Care.  The odds are just too high to avoid the issue.  You can consult with an Elder Law attorney and your advisor to find the most efficient way to address this in your particular situation.