Many Americans worry more about having no money than about dying
Many Americans worry more about having no money than about dying
Introduction
A new study from Allianz, a financial company, shows that many Americans are more afraid of running out of money than of dying. The study asked 1,000 people aged 25 and older. It found that 67% of them feel this way.
Main Body
The study found differences between age groups. 73% of Generation X (people born between 1965 and 1980) worry more about money than death. 69% of millennials (born 1981-1996) feel the same. Only 59% of baby boomers (born 1946-1964) have this worry. Prices of things are going up. This is called inflation. Inflation has been high since 2021. In 2022, prices went up very fast. In 2025, prices went up more slowly. But people still feel worried. A measure of how people feel about the economy is now at its lowest point since the 1970s. Healthcare costs are a big problem. In 2025, the cost of health insurance from employers went up by $1,408. Workers now pay $6,850 each year. About 23 million people buy health plans from the government (called Obamacare). In 2025, the government stopped giving extra money to help pay for these plans. So many people now pay much more. Some people's monthly payments went up by more than $2,600. One woman, Kate Bivona, is 37 years old. She lives in Tempe, Arizona. She and her husband could not pay the new higher cost for their health plan. So they changed to a cheaper plan. This plan has a high deductible (the amount you pay before insurance starts). They said it is a risk because they do not go to the doctor often.
Conclusion
The study shows that many Americans worry about money because prices are high and healthcare costs a lot. Young people worry more than older people. People who buy health plans from the government also have problems because the government stopped giving them extra money.
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Allianz Study: Two-Thirds of Americans Fear Running Out of Money More Than Death
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.
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Allianz Study Indicates Two-Thirds of Americans Prioritize Financial Depletion over Mortality as a Primary Concern
Introduction
A recent study conducted by the financial services firm Allianz has found that a substantial majority of Americans express greater apprehension about exhausting their financial resources than about death itself. The 2026 Retirement Study, which surveyed 1,000 individuals aged 25 and older with specified income or asset thresholds, reports that 67 percent of respondents hold this view, with notable variations across generational cohorts.
Main Body
The study reveals a pronounced generational gradient in financial anxiety. Among Generation X respondents, 73 percent indicated that the prospect of running out of money was more troubling than mortality, followed by millennials at 69 percent and baby boomers at 59 percent. Additionally, half of all participants stated that they immediately review their retirement account balances following a market decline. These findings are contextualized by persistent macroeconomic pressures: inflation has remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target since February 2021, with the consumer price index experiencing a volatile trajectory—dropping below 1 percent in April 2020, peaking at 9.1 percent in June 2022, and subsequently declining to 2.3 percent in April 2025. Preliminary data for April 2026 indicate that consumer sentiment has reached its lowest level since the University of Michigan began tracking the metric in the late 1970s. Healthcare costs constitute a further significant driver of financial concern. Premiums for employer-sponsored health plans increased by $1,408 in 2025, with employees paying an average of $6,850 annually, according to data from the healthcare analysis firm KFF. For the approximately 23.1 million individuals enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans—commonly referred to as Obamacare—the financial burden has intensified following the expiration of pandemic-era subsidies in 2025. The cessation of these subsidies has resulted in substantial premium increases for millions of policyholders, with some monthly premiums rising by more than $2,600. One respondent, Kate Bivona, a 37-year-old resident of Tempe, Arizona, reported that she and her husband were unable to afford the premium increase on their ACA plan. Consequently, they opted to downgrade to a bronze-tier plan characterized by a high deductible and out-of-pocket maximum, describing the decision as a calculated risk given their infrequent need for medical care.
Conclusion
The Allianz study underscores a pervasive financial unease among Americans, driven by sustained inflation and escalating healthcare costs. The data indicate that concerns about outliving one’s assets have become a dominant source of anxiety, particularly for Generation X and millennials, while the termination of pandemic-era subsidies has exacerbated the financial strain for ACA enrollees.