When retirement planners said I needed to plan on spending about $200,000 on medical costs, I thought not me. Most of my life, I hardly ever went to the doctor, even though I played physical sports such as football through college and rugby until my 30s. In my 30s, I scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician, and the scheduler asked if I was a current patient. I said yes and she asked when was the last time I saw the doctor. I answered, "About 5 years ago or more." She answered, "That's why I don't have you as a regular patient. We archive records if you haven't been here for three years." I made a point after that to visit at least once every three years.
In my 50s, my frequency of medical visits increased, mainly due to cardio vascular disease (CVD) that required stents. Thus, I started yearly visits with a cardiologist. In my 60s, joint pain from arthritis began to increase and I needed a brace for sports activities. In addition, stents weren't a permanent solution and my CVD issues returned after 12 years, despite my changing to a vegan diet. This time Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery was needed.
Now a 14 months after CABG, there are still blockages that need to addressed and I'm going back in for more stents that will hopefully resolve the issue, for a few more years. I also plan to have cataract surgery to replace my clouding lenses later this year. This is in addition to my regular checkups with my primary care physician and my cardiologist. These 2026 visits will result in me reaching my out of pocket limit for health insurance for the third year in a row.
I've gone from rarely going to see the doctor in my youth to exceeding insurance maximum out of pocket costs regularly as a senior. I did not expect such a change in my health needs as I became older.
This is not financial advice. Please consult a professional advisor.
Copyright © 2026 Achievement Catalyst, LLC
Subscribe to My Wealth Builder
No comments:
Post a Comment