How seniors approach health concerns after retirement

More information from the Merrill Lynch study of retirement. The other day I pointed out that the study found four different approaches to Health after retirement, and asked which group fits you. Here is some more information about the four groups to help you decide which best fits. I am in the Lucky but Lax group, but after reading the study I am inclined to move to the Healthy and Proactive.

Healthy and Proactive (29%) 55% female, 45% male

•      Actively engage in key health behaviors such as exercising and eating well (73%)

•      Few allow things to get in the way of taking care of their health (25%)

•      93% say that staying healthy is a source of pride

•      Few see themselves as limited by a chronic condition (20%)

•      Have proactively researched retirement-related health care costs and insurance options (49%)

•      If married, many have had discussions with their spouse about retirement health care topics

Lucky but Lax (10%) 41% female, 59% male

•      Only about a third engage in key health behaviors (35%), yet compared to others their age, fewer currently have a chronic condition

•      Rarely seek out information to improve their health (37%)

•      Feel some concern about the impact an illness could have on their financial situation (62%)

•      Few research retirement-related health care costs and insurance options (23%)

•      Among those who are married, fewer than a quarter have had discussions with their spouse about retirement health care topics

Course-Correcting and Motivated (29%) 53% female, 47% male

•      Four out of five say having a chronic condition was a wake-up call for them to take better care of their health (82%)

•      Many now engage in healthier behaviors (55%), actively seek out information about how to improve their health (80%), and are very interested in technology that can help them better manage their health

•      Are very concerned about the impact illness could have on their financial situation (68%)

•      Many have researched retirement-related health care costs and insurance (46%)

•      If married, about four in ten have discussed retirement health care topics with their spouse

Challenged and Concerned (32%) 57% female, 43% male

•      Many have chronic conditions, which keep them from doing the things that they enjoy (48%), and only about two out of five engage in key health behaviors (42%)

•      Many say other life worries and responsibilities get in the way of taking care of their health (58%)

•      Are seriously concerned about the impact illness could have on their financial situation (72%)

•      Only about a third have researched retirement-related health care costs and insurance options (36%)

•      Among those who are married, less than one-third have discussed retirement health care topics with their spouse

•      Feel very overwhelmed (58%) and confused (54%) by retirement health care cost and insurance information