​Thinking about purchasing long-term care insurance? That could be a wise decision. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that today’s 65-year-olds have a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care at some point.1
 
Long-term care is ongoing assistance with basic, day-to-day living activities such as bathing, eating, mobility and more. It’s usually provided in an assisted living facility, but it can also be provided in the home, either by family members or by in-home health aides.
 
Regardless of where the care is provided, it’s usually a costly service. Long-term care often costs thousands of dollars per month, and care is often needed for years. It’s easy to see how it can be a long-term drain on your savings.

​There’s an old saying that if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. That may ring true for retirees. According to a recent study from Fidelity, the average married couple will pay $275,000 for out-of-pocket health care costs in retirement.1
 
If you are approaching retirement, you may be surprised to learn that your health care costs could be that high. After all, you’ll likely enroll in Medicare, which you may expect will pay for much of your health care expenses. However, even Medicare comes with premiums, deductibles and copays. Also, Medicare doesn’t cover every treatment.
 
The truth is that you’re likely to face substantial out-of-pocket costs for most types of health care services and treatments. As you get older, you’re more vulnerable to illness and injury, especially in the later years of retirement. Your health care costs could quickly add up and deplete your savings.

​Think you’re fully covered for health care costs in retirement? Think again. According to Fidelity, the average retired couple will spend nearly $260,000 on out-of-pocket health care costs.1 Those costs are for things like deductibles, copays, prescription drugs, premiums and much more. It doesn’t include costs for long-term care, which could significantly increase your health care expenses.
 
Many retirees assume that Medicare will cover all their medical costs. That assumption is often incorrect. While Medicare is a valuable resource, it usually covers only a portion of your expenses. Some types of care may not be covered at all. That means many retirees face sizable bills that they must pay out of pocket.