Hidden Costs that Hit Seniors Harder
Even if the tax code were perfectly fair (and it isn’t), retirees still carry extra financial burdens that wealth can shield you from.
-
Healthcare Costs: Medicare doesn’t cover everything. Premiums, deductibles, long-term care, and prescriptions add up. For some, healthcare becomes their single largest expense.
-
Property Taxes: You may own your home outright, but property taxes don’t retire when you do. Rising real estate values in many parts of the country mean retirees on fixed incomes are paying more every year.
-
Inflation: Every trip to the grocery store or pharmacy reminds you that fixed income doesn’t stretch the way it used to. Wealthy households can hedge against inflation with investments. Retirees often can’t.
-
Social Security Taxation: Up to 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxed depending on your total income. It feels like double-dipping: you already paid into the system, and now you’re taxed again when collecting benefits.
This steady drip of costs leaves many retirees asking, “Didn’t I do everything right? Why does it feel like I’m the one paying more than my share?”
The weight of these expenses makes the call for tax reform louder than ever. But what changes are really on the table?
