This comprehensive report from TIAA Institute and the Gerontological Society of America examines the intersection of health, wealth, and longevity in modern America. It provides actionable insights for individuals, employers, policymakers, and health systems to support healthy aging and financial security throughout extended lifespans.
Summary
As Americans live longer than ever before, understanding life expectancy and planning for extended lifespans has become critical. This report reveals how income, education, race, and ethnicity significantly impact longevity, with higher-income individuals living up to 15 years longer than those in lower income brackets. The research highlights alarming healthcare workforce shortages—only 7,400 geriatricians practice today versus 30,000 needed by 2030—and demonstrates that educational attainment now rivals race as a predictor of life expectancy. The report introduces the concepts of longevity literacy and longevity fitness, emphasizing that successful aging requires not just financial planning but also health literacy, social connections, and adequate healthcare infrastructure. With nearly two-thirds of Americans 65+ managing two or more chronic conditions, the need for comprehensive planning that begins early in life has never been more urgent.
Key insights
- Income dramatically affects lifespan: Women in the highest income percentile live 10 years longer than those in the lowest; for men, the gap is 15 years, with gender disparities in longevity nearly disappearing at higher income levels.
- Healthcare workforce crisis looms: The U.S. faces a shortage of 121,900 physicians and 1.2 million nurses by 2030, while geriatrics rotations are required at only 10% of medical schools—down from 23% in 2005.
- Education rivals race in predicting longevity: By 2020, holding a bachelor's degree became a stronger predictor of life expectancy than race, with Black individuals with college degrees approaching the life expectancy of White degree holders.
- Chronic conditions dominate older adulthood: Only 12.4% of adults 65+ have no chronic health conditions, while 63.7% manage two or more, requiring expanded healthcare capacity and geriatric expertise.
- Demographic shift accelerates: Eleven states now have more older adults than children, up from just three in 2020, with the 65+ population growing from 12.4% to 18.0% of Americans between 2004 and 2024.
