Less Retirement Funds Needed for Medicare Advantage Compared to Medicare Supplement

I found an interesting headline regarding retirement savings needed for Medicare Advantage versus Medicare Supplement.

According to an analysis published on Feb. 9 by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan may need less retirement savings to cover their healthcare costs.

According to the EBRI’s analysis, for Medicare Advantage plans:

  • Assuming median drug expenditures and an average usage of health care services, a man will need to have saved $56,000 and a woman will need to have saved $67,000 to have a 50% chance of meeting his health care spending requirements in retirement.

  • To have a 90% chance of meeting health care spending requirements, a man will need $96,000 in savings and a woman will need $113,000.

  • Couples will need $123,000 to have a 50% chance and $184,000 to have a 90% chance of covering their health care expenditures in retirement.

For a Medicare Supplements:

  • A man need to have saved $96,000, and a woman will need to have saved $116,000 in order to have a 50% chance of having enough to cover premiums and median prescription drug expenditures.

  • To have a 90% chance, a man will need to have $166,000 in savings, and a woman will need to have $197,000 in savings.

  • Couples will need to have saved $212,000 to have a 50% chance and $318,000 to have a 90% chance.

As the article states, “there are other factors to consider when it comes to choosing a Medicare Advantage plan over traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans often have limited networks or may require approval before certain medications or services are covered.”