{"id":10714,"date":"2026-02-28T12:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T16:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=10714"},"modified":"2026-02-28T12:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T16:08:06","slug":"healthcare-costs-are-eroding-social-security-checks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=10714","title":{"rendered":"Healthcare costs are eroding Social Security checks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"byline yf-o43a56\">\n<div class=\"byline-attr yf-o43a56\">\n<div class=\"byline-attr-logo yf-o43a56\">Healthcare is draining Social Security checks, and the squeeze is getting worse.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body-wrap yf-1k0e58g\">\n<div class=\"body yf-v6n2s3\" data-testid=\"article-body\">\n<div class=\"bodyItems-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Out-of-pocket healthcare spending in retirement is mountains more than people plan for. Even including Medicare coverage and ignoring long-term care, retirees face sizable out-of-pocket costs for premiums, copays, and uncovered medical services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">These bills eat up roughly a third of a typical retiree\u2019s Social Security income and almost a quarter of total income, according to a new\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/crr.bc.edu\/how-much-does-health-spending-eat-away-at-retirees-income-an-update\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:report;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"185\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;02t2g8n1yq74pb08429t&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\">report<\/a>\u00a0from the Center for Retirement at Boston College.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">\u201cRetirees get this because they\u2019re writing the checks now, but those nearing retirement need to realize that this is coming up,\u201d Matthew Rutledge, an economist and the report\u2019s author, told Yahoo Finance. \u201cIt&#8217;s a rude awakening for people once they get to retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"social-security-sole-source-of-income-for-millions-of-retirees\" class=\"header-scroll yf-1u6g9f6\"><strong>Social Security: Sole source of income for millions of retirees<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">For a<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/short-reads\/2025\/05\/20\/what-the-data-says-about-social-security\/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20Social%20Security%20made,their%20only%20source%20of%20income.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:bout half of seniors,;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"186\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;08bax0u1d5gfxc0ta8fb&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\">bout half of seniors,<\/a>\u00a0monthly Social Security benefits provide at least 50% of their income, and for about 1 in 4 seniors, it provides at least 90% of income. For 27% \u2014 6.4 million seniors \u2014 it\u2019s their only source of income.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">In January, the estimated average monthly Social Security retirement benefit was $2,071, according to Social Security Administration\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/faqs\/en\/questions\/KA-01903.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:data;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"187\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;15nseaw1nhywbu10xx4r&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\">data<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">For women, those checks tend to be smaller. The average woman\u2019s monthly Social Security check is roughly one-quarter less than the average man\u2019s due in part to lower pay over their working years, time out of the workforce for caregiving, and more part-time work.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"not-getting-better-anytime-soon\" class=\"header-scroll yf-1u6g9f6\"><strong>Not getting better &#8216;anytime soon&#8217;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">The bad news is that healthcare costs aren\u2019t subsiding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">\u201cMoving forward, we&#8217;re going to see really big portions of people&#8217;s Social Security checks going toward medical costs,\u201d Rutledge said.\u201cThe picture isn\u2019t going to get any better anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Even basic medical care early in retirement is expensive. \u201cMedicare premiums have risen quite high, much faster than inflation over the last few years,\u201d Rutledge said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">In 2026, for example, the monthly Part B premium rate is $202.90, an increase of $17.90 from last year. And the annual Part B deductible, which most people must pay before their Medicare coverage begins, rose by $26 this year, to $283.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">What\u2019s more, medical inflation is projected to climb at more than double the rate of Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (<a class=\"link yahoo-link\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/social-security-benefits-will-rise-28-in-2026-141346727.html\" data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:COLAs);cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-rapid_p=\"188\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;1ezhmtj0k0gf1c03k32e&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\">COLAs)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Health-related cost inflation is expected to remain high with a projected long-term inflation rate of 5.8% (based on a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2026, with average health and national average costs), according to a new\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/hvsfinancial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-Data-Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:report;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"189\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;19n2bjj09qf99315srye&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\">report\u00a0<\/a>from data firm HealthView Services. Social Security COLAs are projected to rise by only 2.4%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"read-more-wrapper\" data-testid=\"read-more\">\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Keep in mind that future costs vary from person to person depending on factors such as your gender, how healthy you are, where you live, and how many years you will live.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">\u201cThe cost of healthcare in retirement comes with sticker shock mainly because employers typically pick up 70-plus percent of an employee\u2019s health insurance premiums,\u201d Ron Mastrogiovanni, CEO of HealthView Services, told Yahoo Finance. \u201cBut when people retire, they are responsible for 100% of healthcare costs for 20 or more years, growing at an inflation rate of approximately 6%.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><strong>Medicare Advantage isn\u2019t always a &#8216;clear advantage&#8217;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Your Medicare Advantage plan is not likely to be the panacea. More than half of beneficiaries now opt for Medicare Advantage coverage, but they should also prepare to feel the sting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">These plans have an Achilles&#8217; heel. \u201cMedicare Advantage seems like it&#8217;s a very good deal for people in the early parts of their retirement since there are often no premiums,\u201d Rutledge said, \u201cbut it&#8217;s less of a clear advantage as you go along if you&#8217;re going to start to need a lot of care from providers who are not part of your plan\u2019s network.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Carolyn McClanahan,\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/carolynmcclanahan.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:6;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:a certified financial planner;cpos:6;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"191\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;1ihjd1211uq4851403q2&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\">a certified financial planner\u00a0<\/a>and physician, agreed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">\u201cOut-of-pocket costs are on the rise, and while the number of people who have signed up for Medicare Advantage plans continues to grow, and costs seem cheaper than traditional Medicare for enrollees, once they get sick and need services, the out-of-pocket costs are higher since Medicare Advantage plans typically requires pre-authorization and are likely to deny services,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">That\u2019s when things go south. \u201cAt that point, a Medicare Advantage consumer is left without the care they want unless they are willing to pay out of pocket,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Traditional Medicare, on the other hand, rarely requires prior authorization for healthcare services or medicine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"mailto:%20kerry.hannon@yahooinc.com\" data-i13n=\"cpos:7;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.;cpos:7;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"192\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;1gx2h5y141slix0b4vgc&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\"><strong><em>Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"keeping-ballooning-costs-at-bay\" class=\"header-scroll yf-1u6g9f6\"><strong>Keeping ballooning costs at bay<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Here are some ways to prepare and manage out-of-pocket medical expenses in retirement:<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><strong>Stay on the job a few extra years.<\/strong>\u00a0If possible, work longer and stay on your employer&#8217;s insurance as long as you can while you build up savings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><strong>Build a health savings account (HSA).\u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re retiring soon, maximizing HSA contributions can be a smart move. An HSA lets you put money in on a tax-free basis, lets that money build up tax-free, and lets it come out tax-free for qualified healthcare expenses. (Some states assess state taxes.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><strong>Push back claiming your Social Security benefit.\u00a0<\/strong>If you can afford to, delaying tapping into your benefit until age 70 will deliver a larger monthly check for the rest of your life \u2014 helpful, should you be faced with hefty healthcare bills as you age.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">Here\u2019s how it works: You can take Social Security as early as age 62, but your benefit can be slashed as much as 30% from what it would have been at your full retirement age (FRA). For anyone born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. If you delay benefits from your full retirement age until age 70, you earn delayed retirement credits. Those come to roughly an 8% increase for each year until you hit 70, when the credits stop accruing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><strong>Budget for costs.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s important to make future healthcare costs a part of your retirement planning budget and factor potential unexpected healthcare costs into your emergency fund, McClanahan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\">\u201cThe system is very broken, and healthcare is now purely a business, she added. \u201cThe only advice I can give is for people once they are retired is to make sure they become engaged patients and question the care being provided and what they are being charged for those services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"byline-attr-logo yf-o43a56\"><a class=\"primary-link fin-size-small yf-119g04z\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/author\/kerry-hannon\" target=\"_self\" data-ylk=\"elm:author;elmt:link;itc:0;slk:Kerry%20Hannon;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;author&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kerry Hannon&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;1opsadh15uw7sb0274mn&quot;}\" data-rapid_p=\"179\" data-v9y=\"1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"byline-attr-logo-img yf-o43a56\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/g.2SvojXrwMNsUGlR9EcQQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTgwO2g9ODA-\/https:\/\/o.aolcdn.com\/images\/dims?image_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fo.aolcdn.com%2Fimages%2Fdims%3Fimage_uri%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fo.aolcdn.com%252Fimages%252Fdims%253Fimage_uri%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fo.aolcdn.com%25252Fimages%25252Fdims%25253Fimage_uri%25253Dhttps%2525253A%2525252F%2525252Fs.yimg.com%2525252Fos%2525252Fcreatr-uploaded-images%2525252F2023-07%2525252F41712030-1c23-11ee-bcf7-7d286db2677e%252526compress%25253D1%252526progressive%25253D1%252526quality%25253D75%252526client%25253Dhawkeye%252526signature%25253D1de715733bdefcb02d735079f8145447d5b31ff0%2526compress%253D1%2526progressive%253D1%2526quality%253D75%2526client%253Dhawkeye%2526signature%253D850fb3720e7261df724b58ed79f7f65a79a681be%26compress%3D1%26progressive%3D1%26quality%3D75%26client%3Dhawkeye%26signature%3D4f2b35afece555fd336b1d5801a4fe34b86903bf&amp;compress=1&amp;progressive=1&amp;quality=75&amp;client=hawkeye&amp;signature=a5075ca77bffbb522c38a04e6704e3941da848c2\" alt=\"Kerry Hannon\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"byline-attr-author yf-o43a56\"><a class=\"primary-link fin-size-large noUnderline yf-119g04z\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/author\/kerry-hannon\" target=\"_self\" data-ylk=\"elm:author;elmt:link;itc:0;slk:Kerry%20Hannon;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;author&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Kerry Hannon&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;18q9v1x09w45ud0xxjz0&quot;}\" data-rapid_p=\"180\" data-v9y=\"1\">Kerry Hannon<\/a>\u00a0<span class=\"byline-attr-meta-separator yf-o43a56\">\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Senior Columnist<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"yf-1fy9kyt\"><em>Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including &#8220;<\/em><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.hachettebookgroup.com\/titles\/kerry-hannon\/retirement-bites\/9781541705845\/?lens=publicaffairs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"193\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;0h15vfy0pdjckj1fpjab&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\"><em>Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future,<\/em><\/a><em>&#8221; &#8220;<\/em><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?page_id=9253\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" data-ylk=\"slk:In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"194\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkID&quot;:&quot;08m3ud90c5akpu1pg0dl&quot;}\" data-v9y=\"1\"><em>In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work<\/em><\/a><em>,&#8221; 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padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_toolbar\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-small.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" style=\"border:0px; padding-top:5px; float:left;\" alt=\"Share Button\"\/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services_t=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_background_t=\"#EAF4FF\";var hupso_border_t=\"#66CCFF\";var hupso_toolbar_size_t=\"small\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_url_t=\"\";var hupso_title_t=\"Healthcare costs are eroding Social Security checks\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share_toolbar.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These bills eat up roughly a third of a typical retiree\u2019s Social Security income and almost a quarter of total income, according to a new\u00a0report\u00a0from the Center for Retirement at Boston College.So<\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; 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