How health spending varies between older singles and older couples: Recent EBRI research shows there are some big differences in non-recurring health care expenses between older single people and older couples.

The likelihood is that couples benefit from their spouses or partners acting as their caregivers when it comes to costs such as home health care and nursing home expenses and other services. For those 85 and above, singles and couples on average spent $13,355 and $8,530, respectively, on these non-recurring services during the two-year period of the EBRI study.

But there is not a big difference in spending for this group for so-called recurring health care services such as doctor visits, dentist visits, and prescription drugs. The average per-person out-of-pocket spending for households ages 65 and above during a two-year period on these services is roughly $2,500 for both single and couple households, and this amount does not change with age. MORE.

Upcoming EBRI Presentations

Sept. 26 - Paul Fronstin, Mid-Sized Retirement & Healthcare Plan Management Conference, University Conference Services, Las Vegas, NV -- Topic: "The Future of Employment-Based Health Benefits"

Nov. 9 - Paul Fronstin, Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, Washington, DC -- Topic: "Addressing Percent Spend on Primary Care"

ABD Insurance & Financial Services: "Go All the Way With HSA: Everything HDHP/HSA You Need to Know"

The Prudent Investment Adviser Rules: "A Fiduciary Blueprint: The Restatement of Trusts, the Prudent Investor Rule and the DOL’s New Fiduciary Rule"

Xerox Corporation FYI®: "OK to Include More ACA Marketplace Information with COBRA Election Notices"

Xerox Corporation FYI® In-Depth: "Flex Contributions and Opt-Out Payments Under ACA"