Rising Retirement Costs...Anyone See The Irony?

Most people probably associate retirement with relaxation and leisure. Unfortunately, they're in for a shock. On average, the typical couple retiring today would need about $338,000 in savings to be sure that they could cover medical costs. Does something not seem right about that picture? In America, healthcare is the primary reason that a person's plans for retirement fail, and they are forced to return to work. ..This is in America. The land of opportunity. In many other countries, the healthcare system is run completely by the government, and although their ideas may not be full-proof, their citizens can be comforted by the knowledge that they will always be able to recieve medical help, whenever they need it. Perhaps the United States should take a step towards these countries, and figure out where a) they have gone right and b) we have fallen short of expectations.