![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/retired-couple-paperwork-taxes-retirement-iStock-1049512594.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n fizkes \/ iStock.com <\/p>\n
Commitment to Our Readers<\/p>\n
GOBankingRates’ editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines<\/a> and our products and services review methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n 20 Years<\/strong> Trusted by<\/strong> For Americans still in the workforce with employer-sponsored healthcare plans, it\u2019s easy to take health insurance for granted. Unfortunately, this means that many middle-class workers fail to factor in health care costs when planning for their retirement<\/a>. This oversight can have serious financial ramifications in their golden years.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Fidelity\u2019s 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate<\/a>, a 65-year-old retiring in 2025 can expect to spend an average of $172,500 throughout retirement on health care and medical expenses \u2014 and that\u2019s excluding long-term care expenses. The same survey indicates that 20% of Americans never considered their healthcare needs during retirement.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Peter Dunn<\/a>, a financial expert, author and host of the \u201cPete the Planner Show\u201d podcast and radio show, said workers are often blindsided by the cost of medical coverage because their take-home pay arrives after medical expenses are deducted.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWorkers are used to having a lot covered that just isn\u2019t with Medicare,\u201d he said, noting that retirees often fail to anticipate the costs Medicare premiums \u2014 the price of which can vary depending on their income \u2013or the fact that dental, vision, hearing and prescription drug costs aren\u2019t fully covered by most Medicare plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cMiddle-class couples could easily spend $6,000 [to] $10,000 a year out of pocket,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n That said, there are some ways pre-retirees can plan for and mitigate the impact of healthcare costs in retirement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Invest Early in Your Health<\/p>\n It may sound obvious, but the single best way to control retirement costs is to stay healthy, said Dunn.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your retirement is consumed with medical expenses, it will be absolutely miserable,\u201d he added. \u201cDon\u2019t smoke, keep your weight under control, walk 10,000 steps a day. Those choices matter more than you realize.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Even small improvements in fitness can reduce the risk of costly chronic illnesses<\/a> like heart disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n Pay Off Your Mortgage Before You Retire<\/p>\n \u201cMiddle-class retirement is very different today than it was 30 to 40 years ago,\u201d Dunn said, noting that the demise of company pensions and the fact that people are buying homes later in life means many workers retire without a guaranteed income, and with the added burden of mortgage payments.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.gobankingrates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/icon-20.svg?webp=1&quality=75\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n
Helping You Live Richer<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.gobankingrates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/icon-experts-review.svg?webp=1&quality=75\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.gobankingrates.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/icon__trusted.svg?webp=1&quality=75\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n
Millions of Readers<\/p>\n