Allianz Study: Two-Thirds of Americans Fear Running Out of Money More Than Death

Apr 24, 2026, 15:16

Introduction

A recent study by the financial services company Allianz found that a large majority of Americans are more worried about running out of money than about dying. The 2026 Retirement Study, which surveyed 1,000 people aged 25 and older with certain income or asset levels, reports that 67 percent of respondents feel this way, with significant differences between generations.

Main Body

The study reveals clear generational differences in financial anxiety. Among Generation X respondents, 73 percent said that the fear of running out of money was more troubling than death, followed by millennials at 69 percent and baby boomers at 59 percent. Additionally, half of all participants stated that they immediately check their retirement account balances after a market drop. These findings are explained by ongoing economic pressures. Inflation has stayed above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target since February 2021. The consumer price index has gone through a volatile period: it dropped below 1 percent in April 2020, peaked at 9.1 percent in June 2022, and then fell to 2.3 percent in April 2025. Early data for April 2026 shows that consumer confidence is at its lowest point since the University of Michigan started measuring it in the late 1970s. Healthcare costs are another major cause of financial worry. Premiums for employer-sponsored health plans increased by $1,408 in 2025, with employees paying an average of $6,850 per year, according to KFF, a healthcare research firm. For about 23.1 million people with ACA plans (also called Obamacare), the financial pressure has increased after pandemic subsidies ended in 2025. The end of these subsidies has caused large premium increases for millions of people, with some monthly premiums rising by more than $2,600. One respondent, Kate Bivona, a 37-year-old from Tempe, Arizona, said that she and her husband could not afford the premium increase on their ACA plan. As a result, they chose a cheaper bronze-tier plan with a high deductible and high out-of-pocket costs. They described it as a calculated risk because they rarely need medical care.

Conclusion

The Allianz study highlights widespread financial worry among Americans, caused by ongoing inflation and rising healthcare costs. The data show that fears of running out of money have become a main source of stress, especially for Generation X and millennials, while the end of pandemic subsidies has increased financial pressure for people with ACA plans.

Vocabulary Learning

deductible (n.)
the amount you have to pay for medical costs before insurance starts paying自付額；免賠額
Example:They chose a cheaper bronze-tier plan with a high deductible.
premiums (n.)
regular payments made for an insurance policy保費；保險費
Example:Premiums for employer-sponsored health plans increased by $1,408 in 2025.
respondents (n.)
people who answer questions in a survey受訪者；答覆者
Example:67 percent of respondents said they fear running out of money more than death.
subsidies (n.)
money given by the government to reduce the cost of something補貼；資助
Example:The end of pandemic subsidies has caused large premium increases.
volatile (adj.)
likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly動盪的；不穩定的
Example:The consumer price index has gone through a volatile period.

Sentence Learning

The 2026 Retirement Study, which surveyed 1,000 people aged 25 and older with certain income or asset levels, reports that 67 percent of respondents feel this way, with significant differences between generations.
Relative clause (which surveyed) provides extra information about the study without starting a new sentence, making the idea more compact and clear.關係從句（which surveyed）為研究提供額外資訊，無需另起新句，使表達更簡潔清晰。
These findings are explained by ongoing economic pressures.
Passive voice (are explained by) shifts focus from the unknown explainer to the findings themselves, common in formal reporting to emphasize the result rather than the agent.被動語態（are explained by）將重點從未知的解釋者轉移到發現本身，在正式報導中常用以強調結果而非行為者。
As a result, they chose a cheaper bronze-tier plan with a high deductible and high out-of-pocket costs.
Linking phrase 'As a result' shows cause and effect, clearly connecting the previous reason (unaffordable premium) to the action taken, improving logical flow.連接詞組「As a result」表示因果關係，清楚將前因（負擔不起保費）與後果（選擇較便宜計劃）連繫起來，增強邏輯連貫性。
The Allianz study highlights widespread financial worry among Americans, caused by ongoing inflation and rising healthcare costs.
Passive participle 'caused by' acts as a reduced relative clause, concisely explaining the reason for the worry, combining passive voice with cause-effect structure.被動分詞「caused by」用作簡化關係從句，簡潔說明憂慮的原因，結合被動語態與因果結構。
The data show that fears of running out of money have become a main source of stress, especially for Generation X and millennials, while the end of pandemic subsidies has increased financial pressure for people with ACA plans.
Linking word 'while' introduces a contrast between two groups (Gen X/millennials vs. ACA plan holders), clearly organizing parallel but different situations in one sentence.連接詞「while」引出兩組人（X世代/千禧世代 vs. ACA計劃持有者）的對比，在同一句中清晰組織平行但不同的情況。