Among Seniors, a Declining Interest in Boosters
You could argue that if one of the best times to retire is approaching, it’s more reason to continue as active seniors than it is to slow down.
AARP recently celebrated its 40th anniversary in a report that said “the majority of seniors (65 and older) continue to be financially independent and are unlikely to need outside assistance in the near future,” while “the median income for seniors 65 and older is higher than ever before.”
While it would be nice to live free of financial worry, that’s rarely a reality with Medicare and Social Security programs. But with a rising number of retirees, the financial challenges seniors face aren’t necessarily going away, especially with the ongoing changes the health care system will likely bring in the future.
With that in mind, we decided to ask a group of over 100 seniors what they would like to see change going forward in the Medicare and Social Security programs. With nearly a third of them already eligible for Medicare and Social Security, our next question was what they look for in the future.
While the majority of them are focused on getting a high quality healthcare plan, nearly all want other changes to make a big difference in the future.
Many would like to see a tax on the wealthy increased, especially given the cost of health care is projected to rise as we age. That’s not good news for the wealthy, as they would be paying more to maintain current levels of coverage.
One of the more interesting suggestions we received was what it looks like when seniors are able to maintain an active lifestyle without being confined to their homes.
“After retirement, if you want to go out, you can. You don’t have to wait until retirement for that,” said Beth Schmitt, a retired social worker from Chicago.
“Do not wait to be forced into a retirement home,” she said. “If you want to