Over the weekend, my wife Thea and I sat alongside our camper in the Coconino National Forest. No other people for miles around us. Rex was hanging out in his favorite spot, the back seat of the Jeep. Birds were chirping, bees were buzzing, and an occasional cow was mooing. The weather was perfect: about 65 degrees and clear skies. Not a care in the world. We began talking. Actually, she did all the talking, and I did a lot of listening. She said things could be much simpler if folks took responsibility for things in life. Yes, life happens. But seriously, if you're not happy with your lot in life, step up, examine options, and fix it.
When the Wake-Up Call Comes
I was tired of being fat, feeling tired all the time, and running out of breath, walking up the stairs to the office. My annual physical resulted in news I was not expecting. In my mind, I walked in fine and walked out with high blood pressure and onset diabetes. I work out with a trainer 3 days a week- what gives? I've been going to the gym for 23 years now. What was I missing? The challenge? Food. Nutrition. I was eating wrong and not making better choices with what I was putting in my body. I had to make changes systemically. To get healthy meant more than making changes on the outside.
To beat diabetes, lower my blood pressure by 30 points, and drop 15% of my body weight… I went nutritionally hardcore. I have stopped starch, gluten, nitrates, sulfates, and artificial anything. Just fresh, healthy stuff. Oh yeah, no diet soda, either. That was the hardest. My chocolate craving was actually a magnesium deficiency. I stopped the store brand vitamins which I learned contained artificial B vitamins which break down to cyanide (not kidding). Another health epiphany… my inflammation went away, I stopped snoring, and I lost 3 shirt sizes and 4 inches on my waist. But I eat more now than ever. I want to be healthy. Am I perfect? No.
The Same Approach Works for Your Retirement Health
I have decided to make personal changes with what I can do to control my health. I did seek guidance from someone to teach me about the importance of nutrition so I could incorporate new programs into my life. What you need to do to meet a similar goal for health might be different. That's why experts are great to consult with. What might work for one person might be different for someone else.
Everything we do here is to help folks prepare and stay retired. We provide education to help you make choices to sustain your retirement decision. Your plan should ultimately be unique to you.
If your prescription costs change, we can help you explore other options for sourcing your medications. If you think your money isn't protected from economic fluctuations like it should be, we can help. If you need help with when to turn on your Social Security, we can help. If you are paying too much for your health care, we can help. Let us look at your retirement readiness systemically. You might be surprised at how much healthier the outlook is!
By David Schaeffer
Founder of American Retirement Advisors, David has spent decades helping retirees and pre-retirees build secure financial futures. His straightforward approach to retirement planning has guided hundreds of families toward confident, well-prepared retirements.
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Easy Eddie's Take
David's story really hits home for me because I hear this all the time: "I thought I was doing everything right, then my health changed everything." Here's the thing most people don't realize - your health decisions after 60 can dramatically impact your retirement finances. A diabetes diagnosis can add $13,000 or more per year in medical costs, and that's with good Medicare coverage.
Speaking of Medicare, if you're dealing with a new health condition like David did, you might be surprised to learn that Medicare Part B covers diabetes screening tests and nutritional counseling at 100% when you meet certain criteria. Medicare Advantage plans often include additional wellness benefits too. And if you're still working past 65, you can delay Medicare Part B enrollment without penalty as long as you have credible group health coverage through your employer.
The bigger picture here is what I call "retirement health planning" - looking at your whole situation systemically, just like David did with his nutrition. Your Medicare choices, prescription drug coverage through Part D, long-term care insurance, and even your HSA strategy all work together. A little preparation today can make a big difference tomorrow.