Healthcare Costs – The Simply Retirement Podcast

Inherited IRA Options Every Widow Should Understand (Ep. 113)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 15, 2026

Losing a spouse often brings emotional and financial decisions that can affect your future for years to come.

What happens when one of the largest assets you inherit is a retirement account? How do you know which choices may affect taxes, healthcare costs, income planning, and retirement flexibility?

In this episode, I discuss one of the most important financial decisions many widows face after losing a spouse: what to do with an inherited IRA or retirement account. I explain the unique options available to surviving spouses, how inherited IRAs differ from rolling assets into your own IRA, and why those choices can influence retirement income, taxes, healthcare costs, and required distributions.

We also share a real client example, common mistakes to avoid, and five key questions every surviving spouse should ask before making a permanent decision about inherited retirement assets.

Key Takeaways:

Why surviving spouses often have retirement account options unavailable to other beneficiaries
How inherited IRA decisions may affect taxes, healthcare costs, and retirement income flexibility
Why age differences between spouses can influence future required minimum distributions
Common mistakes widows make when using inherited retirement assets for large expenses
Five questions that can help guide decisions before making permanent account changes
And more!

Resources:

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What Happens to Your Health Insurance When One Spouse Retires? (Ep. 111)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | July 1, 2026

Healthcare decisions can become overwhelming quickly once retirement enters the picture, especially when one spouse is nearing Medicare eligibility, and the other is not.

What happens if you lose employer coverage earlier than expected? How do you compare COBRA, Medicare, and ACA plans without creating confusion later?

In this episode, I walk through the healthcare decisions many couples face before and during retirement. I explain how Medicare enrollment works, why COBRA can create unexpected long-term issues, and how healthcare costs often change once employer coverage ends.

We also discuss the planning challenges couples face when spouses retire at different times, how ACA tax credits may still apply for some retirees, and why understanding your options early can help reduce stress later.

Key takeaways:

Why delaying Medicare while on COBRA can create permanent late enrollment penalties later
How employer health insurance costs often rise sharply after moving onto COBRA coverage
Why couples retiring at different ages may need two separate healthcare planning strategies
How ACA tax credits may still help some retirees lower healthcare expenses before age 65
Why healthcare decisions should also be evaluated from the wife’s long-term perspective
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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Investing in Retirement – Part 1: It Starts with Having a Plan (Ep. 80)

By The Simply Retirement Podcast | November 26, 2025

Retirement is shifting in ways that require new thinking, new planning, and new strategies.

In this episode, I launch a new series on the seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement. I explain how today’s retirement looks different than past generations, why the Great Wealth Transfer is so impactful for women, and why starting with a clear financial plan is more important than ever.

In this conversation, we cover:

How the retirement landscape has changed
Why investing in retirement is different than investing for retirement
The Great Wealth Transfer and its impact on women managing wealth for the first time
How values and goals form the foundation of your financial roadmap
Why a financial plan is the cornerstone of all retirement strategies
And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake:

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