Health care costs in retirement: a survey among non-retired hispanic/latino adults

This AARP survey looked at Hispanic/Latino adults’ awareness and concern about health care costs that they may incur during retirement.  It also sought to determine whether or not

non-retired Hispanic/Latino adults are currently saving to cover health care expenses in the future. Key findings include: * MOST HISPANIC/LATINO ADULTS AGE 50-64 (71%) HAVE NOT TAKEN STEPS

TO PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS IN RETIREMENT.  Across age groups, only one-quarter (27%) have tried to estimate how much money they will need to save and have set money aside to cover these

expenses in the future. * WHILE MOST HISPANIC/LATINO ADULTS AGE 50-64 HAVE GIVEN HEALTH CARE COSTS IN RETIREMENT AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF THOUGHT, MOST ARE NOT CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE

TO AFFORD THE COSTS.  Six in ten respondents (59%) have thought about the costs at least somewhat but only 40% are confident they can afford the costs.  In fact, less than two in ten (12%)

are very confident that they can afford the costs of health care in retirement.  * ESTIMATES OF THE ACTUAL COSTS OF HEALTH CARE IN RETIREMENT VARY SIGNIFICANTLY.  More than four in ten (46%)

believe they will need to accumulate less than $100,000 to cover out-of-pocket health care expenses during their retirement.  In addition, one-quarter (26%) believe it will cost less than

$50,000 and 17% say they simply do not know. * THREE-QUARTERS OF HISPANIC/LATINO ADULTS AGE 50-64 (76%) DO NOT HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE TO COVER ANY POTENTIAL HEALTH CARE EXPENSES IN RETIREMENT.

  While income does play a role in saving, less than half (46%) of those in the highest income group (>$100,000 annually) say they have money set aside (compared to only 13% of those who

report an income of less than $30,000 annually). The survey was conducted for AARP by SSRS, an independent research firm.  Interviews were conducted April 16 – September 22, 2014 among a

nationally representative sample of 804 non-retired Hispanic/Latino adults age 50-64. Interviews were conducted in both English and Spanish.  For more information, contact Laura Skufca at 

LSkufca@aarp.org.