Boomers Off To a Good Start, But?

May 22, 2001 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Boomers are beginning to retire in fine financial shape - but rising health care costs could undermine that strong start, according to the AARP.

The typical boomer household was worth $134,000 in 1998, according to the report, a 36% increase over the $98,000 median net worth of over-50 households in 1983.

However, the number of Americans with private health coverage declined 12.2% to 6.7% over the 1990s.  The report notes that members of this generation spend about 19% of their income on medical care.  In fact, AARP says four in 10 Americans will experience poverty at some point after turning 60.

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AARP notes that some Americans are putting off retirement.  Last year 17.5% of men remained in the workforce past age 65, up from the 15.8% who did so in 1985.

In 2000, 9.4% of women remained in the labor force after age 65, compared with the 7.3% who kept working in 1985.

 

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