Oklahomans Retirement Savings Are At Risk Five Health Care Tips to Protect Retirement Savings
6/17/2008
As the first of Oklahoma’s “Baby Boomers” turns 62 this year, health insurance premiums continue to rise and “Boomers” will need to plan ahead to keep their pre-retirement standard of living in retirement. With the cost for health care increasing every year at a double digit rate, you must take action to prevent your retirement savings from disappearing. By controlling existing health conditions and preventing new conditions from developing, you can help avoid these rising health costs and the dwindling of retirement savings. Taking better care of your health now may lead to being able to save those hard earned retirement dollars in the future. Here are five tips to help work toward better health and lower insurance premiums.
- Keep active. Even moderate exercise will help you lose weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, and just plain “feel better”.
- Quit smoking. According to the Surgeon General, smoking is still the number one cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. If you quit smoking today, you can add years to your life and save insurance premium dollars for your retirement account.
- Eat healthy foods. By improving your diet you can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. All of these conditions add up to higher health insurance premiums.
- Talk to your insurance agent. Discuss and plan with your insurance agent to ensure that your health insurance costs are the best for the money and that your health care needs are met with the plan that is best for you. Before you turn 65, develop a health care plan with your insurance agent that will meet your needs as you grow older.
- Take full advantage of all programs and benefits at your place of employment. Health Savings Accounts will assure lower tax dollars being spent and more money to go into your retirement account.
Remember that even the smallest changes in behavior can save insurance premium dollars and add the dollars right back to your retirement savings. This will have a tremendous impact when you see that better health habits have the potential to lower your current and future insurance premiums. Live well…save money!
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