# Retirement में Healthcare Costs
Healthcare एक key expense है जो retirement में बढ़ती है, और financial planning में overlook होती है। यहां बताया गया है कि क्या expect करें और कैसे prepare करें।
Healthcare Landscape in NZ
What's Free (Public System)
NZ में, many healthcare services publicly funded हैं:
- •Hospital care - Emergency और elective (with waiting lists)
- •GP visits - Free for 65+ (from July 2024)
- •Prescriptions - $5 per item (capped at $100/year)
- •Specialist appointments - When referred through public system
- •Home support - Assessed and funded based on need
What's Not Covered
- •Private healthcare - Faster access, choice of specialist
- •Dental - Not covered for adults
- •Vision - Eye exams, glasses
- •Hearing - Hearing aids (partial subsidy available)
- •Rest home care - Unless assets below threshold
Common Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Medical Costs to Budget For
| Expense | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| GP visits (pre-65) | $150-$300 |
| Prescriptions | $60-$100 |
| Dental | $300-$800 |
| Vision (glasses) | $200-$600 every 2-3 years |
| Hearing aids | $3,000-$10,000 every 5-7 years |
| Private specialists | $200-$500 per visit |
| Health insurance premiums | $3,000-$8,000+ |
Example Annual Healthcare Budget
| Category | Conservative | Moderate | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic medical | $200 | $400 | $600 |
| Dental | $300 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Vision | $100 | $200 | $300 |
| Insurance premiums | $0 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| Out-of-pocket private | $0 | $500 | $2,000 |
| Total | $600 | $5,600 | $11,900 |
Health Insurance in Retirement
The Decision Framework
| Factor | Keep Insurance | Drop Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Current health | Good | Any health issues |
| Financial reserves | Limited | Substantial |
| Risk tolerance | Risk-averse | Can absorb costs |
| Premium cost | Affordable | Becoming unaffordable |
| Public system | Concerns | Comfortable |
Insurance Premium Reality
Health insurance premiums increase significantly with age:
| Age | Approximate Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| 60 | $3,500-$5,000 |
| 65 | $4,500-$6,500 |
| 70 | $6,000-$9,000 |
| 75 | $8,000-$12,000+ |
| 80+ | Often unaffordable/unavailable |
**Important**: Premiums continue rising, often by 10-15% per year plus age-related increases।
When to Consider Dropping Insurance
Insurance drop करना consider करें अगर:
- •Premiums 5%+ of income exceed कर रहे हैं
- •आपके पास sufficient cash reserves हैं
- •आप public system से comfortable हैं
- •आप good health में हैं without pre-existing conditions
- •Policy exclusions ने value reduce कर दी है
Insurance Alternative: Self-Insure
कुछ लोग medical expenses के लिए dedicated savings रखते हैं insurance के बजाय:
Self-insurance fund:
- •$50,000-$100,000 set aside
- •Accessible लेकिन separate from daily funds
- •Used only for medical expenses
- •Remaining funds become part of estate
Pros: No premiums, no claim hassles, flexibility
Cons: Requires discipline, may not cover catastrophic costs
Planning for Aged Care
Rest Home Costs
अगर residential care need हो:
| Care Level | Weekly Cost (2024) |
|---|---|
| Rest home | $1,200-$1,600 |
| Hospital level | $1,800-$2,500 |
| Dementia care | $1,800-$2,500 |
Government Subsidy
Government subsidy help करती है अगर:
- •Assets threshold से नीचे हैं (single person के लिए ~$239,930, July 2024)
- •Income threshold से नीचे है
- •Care assessed as necessary है
Most people pay privately initially until assets depleted होते हैं।
Asset Testing Reality
अगर आपके पास:
- •Home worth $800,000
- •KiwiSaver $200,000
- •Other savings $100,000
आप initially private pay करेंगे। Assets threshold तक पहुंचने पर subsidy begins।
**Note**: Family home exempt है अगर spouse still living in it।
Strategies for Healthcare Costs
1. Maintain Your Health
सबसे best strategy healthcare costs reduce करने की है अपना health ही improve करना:
- •Regular exercise
- •Healthy diet
- •Preventive care
- •Regular check-ups
2. Use Public System Effectively
- •Regular GP जाएं early detection के लिए
- •Waiting lists से patient रहें
- •Hospital services use करें जहां appropriate
- •Free services जानें
3. Plan Dental Care
Dental expensive है और unplanned होता है। Consider करें:
- •Regular cleaning (6-monthly)
- •Addressing issues early
- •Dental savings fund ($1,000-$2,000 reserve)
- •Community dental clinics for basic care
4. Budget for Vision and Hearing
Both deteriorate with age:
- •Annual eye exams (can detect other conditions)
- •Budget for new glasses periodically
- •Hearing test अगर concerns हैं
- •Government hearing aid subsidy explore करें
How Much to Set Aside
Healthcare Reserve Recommendations
| Approach | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | $10,000 | Basic emergencies |
| Moderate | $30,000 | Cover most situations |
| Comprehensive | $50,000+ | Self-insure approach |
Annual Budget Allocation
एक reasonable annual healthcare budget है:
- •5-10% of retirement income
- •या $3,000-$10,000 per year per person
- •Plus reserve fund for unexpected costs
Key Takeaway
Healthcare costs retirement में significantly increase होती हैं, especially as आप age करते हैं। GP visits 65+ पर free होने जा रहे हैं, लेकिन dental, vision, hearing, और potential private care के लिए plan करें। अभी से $3,000-$10,000 annually budget करें, plus $30,000+ emergency medical fund build करें। Health insurance decision अपनी personal circumstances, risk tolerance, और ability to self-insure पर base करें।
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