Participant Corner: Good Health is the Best Wealth

Jul 27, 2020

This month’s employee memo encourages employees to make small lifestyle changes to reduce their out-of-pocket health costs. The memo shows the difference in savings between an average-managed patient and a well-managed patient. Download the memo from your Fiduciary Briefcase at fiduciarybriefcase.com. Please see an excerpt below.

Believe it or not, staying healthy just might make you wealthy. With small lifestyle changes and healthy choices, you may reduce your annual healthcare costs and increase your income. These lifestyle changes can be as simple as limiting your salt intake or taking your prescribed medication regularly.

For example:

For purpose of the case study, Alisha and Jasmine are compared in two levels of care: average managed (loosely follows physician recommendations) and well managed (fully complies with physician recommendations).

Alisha and Jasmine are both 45 years old and both sought medical treatment for high blood pressure. Alisha doesn’t follow the lifestyle changes her doctor suggested, whereas Jasmine diligently follows her doctor’s recommendations. With Jasmine’s small changes she saves more than $1,000 in out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Additionally, Jasmine’s combined pre-retirement and in-retirement savings will be $89,456 more than Alisha, as shown in the table below.

Annual Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs:

  Alisha Jasmine Jasmine’s Savings in Health Expenditures
Age 45 $2,477 $1,286 $1,192
Age 64 $13,936 $7,343 $6,592
Total Pre-Retirement $138,288 $72,591 $65,697
Total In Retirement $51,790 $28,031 $23,759
Grand Total $190,078 $100,622 $89,456
For illustrative purposes only.

The hypothetical case study results are for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed a representation of past or future results. This example does not represent any specific product, nor does it reflect sales charges or other expenses that may be required for some investments. No representation is made as to the accurateness of the analysis.

For more tips on preparing for healthcare costs, contact your plan’s financial professional.

This material was created to provide accurate and reliable information on the subjects covered but should not be regarded as a complete analysis of these subjects. It is not intended to provide specific legal, tax or other professional advice. The services of an appropriate professional should be sought regarding your individual situation.

For more information, contact your plan advisor, Preston Englund at Ridgeline Advisors at 402-461-4893 or 

Securities offered through IFP Securities, LLC, dba Independent Financial Partners (IFP), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advice offered through IFP Advisors, LLC, dba Independent Financial Partners (IFP), a Registered Investment Adviser. IFP and Ridgeline Advisors are not affiliated.