Health care costs are a driving force for many retirees who are considering the decision of whether to relocate or stay put as they near or enter retirement.
With the costs of home care as well as more acute levels of care are rising, making health care an even more important consideration than in past years. But not all cities and metros are alike when it comes to those health care costs and the quality of that care, according to a new Bankers Life’s report. A post-work lifestyle that supports healthy living could be within reach—for some—the report suggests.
The report looks at 60 metropolitan areas across the country, scoring each on eight categories crucial to healthy living: health care, economy and affordability, social, wellness, activities, environment, transportation and crime. In determining how healthy a city is, researchers heavily emphasized factors that have a greater influence on overall health, such as health care, while placing less significance on categories like transportation and crime.
Leading the pack is Seattle, Washington, touted for its natural beauty, moderate climate and host of outdoor and cultural activities. Despite it being one of the more expensive cities in the report, research shows Seattle’s benefits for a healthy retirement outweigh its costliness.
10. Salt Lake City, Utah
9. Cleveland, Ohio
8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7. Baltimore, Maryland
6. Omaha, Nebraska
5. Hartford, Connecticut
4. Portland, Oregon
3. Denver, Colorado
2. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
1. Seattle, Washington
Written by Kourtney Liepelt
