Healthcare Cost Planning: Protecting Your Retirement from the Unexpected

Healthcare is one of the most significant—and often underestimated—expenses in retirement. As medical costs continue to rise, planning for healthcare and Medicare is not optional; it’s essential to maintaining financial security and peace of mind. At 100Retire, we help individuals in their 50s, 60s, and beyond understand, prepare for, and manage the true cost of healthcare in retirement.

Led by Joel Marius, RICP®, a financial professional with over 25 years of experience, our approach combines education, strategy, and coordination. Using the comprehensive framework of the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designation, Joel helps clients integrate healthcare planning into their overall retirement income strategy—so medical decisions and financial goals work together seamlessly.

Healthcare is one of the largest and most unpredictable expenses retirees will face. According to recent estimates, a couple retiring at age 65 may spend several hundred thousand dollars on medical costs over their lifetime—not including potential long-term care needs. Without proper planning, these expenses can create pressure on savings and disrupt an otherwise well-structured retirement income plan.

Many retirees mistakenly assume Medicare will cover all their costs. While Medicare provides a vital foundation, there are still premiums, deductibles, copayments, and gaps in coverage that must be planned for. Understanding how to navigate Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D—and how they coordinate with supplemental or employer coverage—is critical to avoiding unnecessary expenses or penalties.

Joel Marius helps clients take a proactive and strategic approach to managing healthcare costs in retirement. His planning process focuses on integrating medical expenses and insurance decisions into a broader financial framework. This includes:

• Medicare Enrollment Guidance: Understanding when and how to enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) to avoid late enrollment penalties and coverage gaps.
   
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) vs. Medigap: Comparing options based on cost, coverage, flexibility, and travel needs to find the most suitable plan for your health and budget.
   
• Prescription Coverage (Part D): Reviewing drug plans to minimize out-of-pocket costs and ensure ongoing affordability.
   
• Long-Term Care Planning: Evaluating hybrid insurance policies, annuities with LTC riders, or self-funding strategies to address future care needs without eroding family assets.
   
• IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) Analysis: Coordinating income and tax strategies to help reduce potential Medicare premium surcharges caused by higher income levels.
   

Joel integrates all these factors into your retirement income plan, ensuring that your healthcare and financial strategies are aligned—so unexpected costs don’t derail your long-term goals.

Healthcare planning with Joel is not just about picking a Medicare plan; it’s about building a complete financial strategy that anticipates future needs and changing costs. By analyzing your income sources, expected expenses, and tax exposure, Joel helps you:

• Forecast healthcare and insurance costs over time.
   
• Integrate medical expenses into your withdrawal strategy.
   
• Coordinate Medicare timing with Social Security and Roth conversions to minimize taxation and IRMAA surcharges.
   
• Understand the trade-offs between premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and coverage flexibility.

At 100Retire, we believe healthcare cost planning is one of the cornerstones of retirement success. Through the expertise of Joel Marius, RICP®, you can approach this complex topic with clarity and confidence—knowing your healthcare decisions are fully integrated with your income, tax, and longevity strategy.

Before you enroll, renew, or make changes to your Medicare coverage, make sure you have a complete plan that protects both your health and your wealth. Healthcare planning today is the foundation for financial stability tomorrow.