Help clients plan for one of the most critical retirement expenses—healthcare costs.

Out-of-pocket healthcare costs are some of the most important and least predictable retirement expenses. And the unpredictability of certain retirement healthcare costs can create anxiety for retirement savers.

The 2026 Nationwide Retirement Institute^® Healthcare Costs Survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans fear their healthcare costs will go out of control in retirement. Many people are worried about affording healthcare in retirement and whether Medicare will be enough to help them manage these expenses.

For financial professionals, this year’s survey results highlight the importance of engaging with clients to help them build a personalized plan for retirement healthcare costs.

Confidence is low for managing retirement healthcare costs.

Many people recognize the risks healthcare costs can pose to their retirement finances but also don’t feel prepared to manage these expenses.

72%

say healthcare costs are the hardest household expense to predict.

71%

worry a healthcare expense could derail their plans for retirement.

62%

worry about outliving their retirement savings because of rising healthcare costs.

Woman doctor sitting down and looking at a table with a male patient.

Rising healthcare costs are changing how people plan for retirement.

For many households, financial pressures from healthcare costs are creating trade-offs—saving less, spending less or drawing down savings—that can weaken retirement readiness.

55 percent

say medical or health expenses have drastically reduced how much they saved or will be able to save for retirement.

59 percent

worry healthcare costs will delay their plans to retire or stay retired.

72 percent

constantly worry about what inflation will do to their ability to pay healthcare costs.

Woman advisor smiling and sitting down with clients in her office with a large bookshelf behind her.

Education and planning may help close the healthcare affordability gap.

Many clients have a poor understanding of the healthcare costs they’re likely to face in retirement—including what the total costs may be and how they’ll pay for them. Financial professionals can help clients evaluate personalized retirement healthcare cost estimates and consider potential sources of income as part of their retirement planning.

Among survey respondents:

85%

say managing healthcare costs should be part of personal financial planning.

88%

say it’s important for specific costs to be communicated ahead of time.

Help clients prepare for retirement healthcare costs.

For clients facing critical decisions around retirement income and planning for the impacts from rapidly rising healthcare costs, education can be a starting point for conversations that foster trust and demonstrate the value of professional financial guidance.

75%

of current clients of a financial professional would likely switch to a financial professional who can help them navigate Medicare choices.

Healthcare costs may be hard to anticipate, but financial professionals can help clients evaluate potential healthcare costs as part of their retirement planning. Nationwide offers the support financial professionals need through tools and resources, including the Nationwide Healthcare Cost Assessment tool, that bring clarity to their retirement planning efforts.

Find resources from Nationwide for your healthcare planning discussions.

Disclosure & Methodology

The research was conducted online in the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of Nationwide among 1,933 adults age 18+, including 467 Gen Z (age 18-29), 500 Millennials (age 30-45), 510 Gen Xers (age 46-61), and 456 Boomers+ (age 62+). 509 current GLP-1 users and 364 former users were also identified. The survey was conducted July 20-August 4, 2026.

For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact charley.gillespie@nationwide.com.

For financial professional use only.

This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.

Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC.