Healthcare inflation

That's the source that I use ????.

Here is a link to a table with historical healthcare inflation data. You must scroll down to see it.

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/health-care-inflation-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=The%20average%20price%20of%20health,of%20Labor%20Statistics%20(BLS).

@golich428 Sorry if it's obvious, but is this the inflation over and above general, or included within general? It says "The cost of health care is a major component — one of eight major groups — in the BLS’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)."

The data comes from the BLS but I find the BLS website to be cumbersome. I typically use Fred for this type of information. If you have not used Fred, it might be something to explore. The inflation rate is a stand alone rate for medical care not incremental to the overall inflation rate. Here is a graph from Fred that is the same data in the table.

Looks like retiree health care inflation will take a breather:

https://www.investopedia.com/retiree-healthcare-expenses-expected-to-hold-steady-on-drug-cost-outlook-7551269?hid=cf7663b321b1ba4c06f591c0f273ce622b2a3d21&did=9481015-20230621

@pizzaman And yet, stories like this mandate planning ahead. See attachment.

Long term care is definitely a potential major challenge. Paying for a loved ones care out of pocket is an option if you can afford it. I would assume that paying for a loved ones care and then having enough to pay for your own care (if needed) is something most people could not afford. The people in the article are the exception. Another route to take is spending down the assets of the person needing long term care and then transiting to Medicaid. Not an easy decision to make, I know.