Fidelity Investments says couples sailing off into the sunset will be doing so with less cash in pocket.
It's part of a long trend of rising health care costs for retirees -- up 4 percent since last year.
"As long as health care cost trends exceed personal income growth and economic growth, health care will still be a growing burden for the country as a whole and for individuals," says Sunit Patel, a senior vice president for benefits consulting at Fidelity.
The study is based on projections for a 65-year-old couple retiring with Medicare coverage. Fidelity estimates couple's will spend $240,000 on health care this year.
The estimate does take into account the federal program's premiums, co-payments and deductibles. It also factors in out-of-pocket prescription costs. The study assumes the couple does not have insurance from their former employers.
And while the increase most likely won't be welcomed by retirees, it's actually modest compared to years past. Since 2002, Fidelity says, health care costs have increased 6 percent per year.
