Domino's Pizza Retirees Face Rising Health Care Costs: Insights from Patrick Ray & Tyson Mavar

'With health care inflation outpacing general costs, Domino's Pizza employees should consider building personalized strategies that include HSAs and emergency reserves to help manage future medical expenses.' — Michael Corgiat, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

'As medical expenses continue to rise, Domino's Pizza employees benefit from proactively incorporating health care costs into their retirement planning through customized approaches like HSAs and dedicated emergency funds.' — Brent Wolf, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

In this article we will discuss:

1. How health care inflation impacts retirement planning for Fortune 500 employees.

2. Strategies with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and emergency medical funds.

3. The need for tailored planning to meet Medicare gaps and long-term care needs.

Managing retirement health care costs calls for thoughtful planning, especially as medical expenses continue to outpace general inflation. Yet, for Fortune 500 professionals approaching retirement, generic guidance often misses the mark. Patrick Ray and Tyson Mavar of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement, recommend a customized approach that factors in health care inflation, coverage choices, tax-efficient tools, and access to liquid funds for unexpected medical events.

Health Care Estimate for Retirees

According to the Fidelity Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate, a 65-year‑old retiring in 2025 may need approximately $172,500 saved to cover health and medical expenses during retirement—an increase of over 4% since 2024. ¹  Notably, this estimate assumes enrollment in Medicare Parts A, B, and D and excludes the costs of long‑term care.

Of that estimate, 44% of the costs would go to Medicare Parts B and D premiums, 47% relate to standard out‑of‑pocket costs (such as co-payments and deductibles), and 9% would be needed to purchase prescription medications. ¹

These trends are particularly concerning given that roughly 20% of Americans say they haven’t considered health care in retirement planning, while 17% haven’t taken any planning steps yet. ²

For its part, the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) notes that a 65‑year‑old couple with higher prescription drug expenses may need as much as $413,000 to have a 90% likelihood of covering their medical needs in retirement. ³

The Value of a Personalized Retirement Health Care Approach

In light of this data, Ray and Mavar recommend developing a retirement health care strategy tailored to each individual's situation, particularly for those at large employers like Fortune 500. Key components could include:

• - Estimating expected medical needs

• - Using Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

• - Keeping readily available funds for emergencies

• - Aligning health care coverage with lifespan and income expectations

1. Estimating Your Health Care Budget

Although industry research offers a baseline for average health care costs, it does not consider the full range of medical expenses Domino's Pizza employees could face post-retirement. For instance, if you factor in costs related to long-term care, estimates could balloon by an additional $26,000 to $127,750 per year. ⁴

Beyond long-term care, additional cost categories could include:

• - Medicare premiums

• - Prescription medications and co‑pays

• - Services not covered by Medicare (e.g., dental, vision)

Ray and Mavar caution Fortune 500 professionals not to underestimate these figures when planning.

2. Gaps in Preparedness

With 17% of Americans having taken no action to plan for health care in retirement, Ray and Mavar emphasize treating health care planning as a central component—not an afterthought.

3. Making Full Use of HSAs

Ray and Mavar suggest consistently contributing to HSAs during working years. For instance, a 35‑year‑old contributing up to $4,300 annually and assuming a 7% return might accumulate over  $500,000  by age 65, including approximately  $140,000 in tax savings . Only about  30%  of HSA holders currently invest those balances.

In their recent webinar, ' Leveraging HSAs to Reduce Health Care Costs ,' Mavar described benefits such as tax‑free growth and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses for those with high‑deductible health plans.

4. Building an Emergency Medical Reserve

Unexpected diagnoses or emergencies can quickly drain resources. Mavar recommends a separate cash reserve—such as in a money market or high‑yield savings account—outside primary retirement accounts. This may help retirees handle health care shocks without impacting long‑term investments.

• Broader Economic Landscape: Health Care Inflation and Trends

Health care spending is projected to continue rising. In a report published by federal actuaries, U.S. health care spending is expected to rise by 7.1% in 2025—well ahead of general inflation. ⁵  Reasons for this rise range from growing personal health care spending and hospital spending growth, to prescription drugs and physician services. As a result, health care expenses could account for 20% of U.S. GDP by 2033. ⁵

At the same time, many health care insurers report higher medical-loss ratios, indicating increased spending on care—including chronic disease management and mental health services—costs that could be passed down to retirees.

Key Recommendations for Retirement Health Care Preparation

• As Mavar and Ray note, the $172,500 estimate for those retiring in 2025 is simply a starting reference point. Early retirement or long-term care needs could push your total higher.

• If you are among the percentage of people who has not yet considered health care costs in your retirement planning, now is the time to start. By leveraging the triple tax advantages available through HSAs, putting aside sufficient reserves to address medical emergencies, and exploring individual strategies that take your personal coverage choices, retirement timing, and health conditions into account, you can build a safety net that considers your long-term health care spending needs.

Final Thoughts

Health care outcomes and personal circumstances vary widely—especially among long‑time Fortune 500 professionals. A tailored planning strategy—covering realistic spending projections, full use of HSAs, dedicated medical reserves, and thoughtful coverage choices—can help support a more predictable and manageable retirement journey.

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Sources:

Domino's Pizza offers a 401(k) savings plan for its employees, known as the Domino's Pizza 401(k) Savings Plan. This plan has been in place since 1984 and provides several benefits, including an employer match. In 2022, the employer match rate was approximately 57.53% of employee contributions, with a total allocation of $12,901,384 towards matching contributions. The plan's total assets by the end of 2022 were $353,603,679, with an average participant account value of $25,666. This 401(k) plan is the primary retirement savings vehicle for Domino's Pizza employees, allowing participants to defer a portion of their salary, with Domino's providing matching contributions to support employee retirement goals. The plan includes features like default investments for those who do not select their own options. As for the company's pension plans, specific details regarding eligibility, years of service, and age qualifications were not prominently featured in the sources. The primary focus appears to be on the 401(k) savings plan, which acts as the main retirement plan for employees.

News: In 2023-2024, Domino's Pizza faced several significant changes. The company experienced a decline in global revenue, with a reported 1% drop in the last quarter of 2023. This shortfall was attributed to staffing shortages, which led to reduced store hours and affected customer service. Additionally, the CEO, Ritch Allison, announced his retirement in early 2024, with Russell Weiner taking over as the new CEO. These changes were compounded by ongoing challenges such as higher costs and labor shortages, which have strained the company's operational efficiency. Importance: It is critical to address this news because the current economic environment is challenging for businesses, especially with rising operational costs and labor market volatility. Understanding these changes is vital for stakeholders, particularly in light of the ongoing shifts in consumer behavior, tax implications, and investment strategies as the company navigates these economic challenges.

For Domino's Pizza, stock options and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) have been consistently offered to employees, particularly focusing on higher-level management. The stock options are typically tied to performance metrics and vest over a specific period, while RSUs are generally awarded based on continued employment. The latest information for 2022, 2023, and 2024 shows that both stock options and RSUs continue to be integral parts of Domino's compensation strategy, with eligibility primarily for executives and key personnel.

Domino's Pizza offers a range of health benefits to its employees, which have been tailored to meet the needs of different worker categories, including full-time and part-time team members. For the years 2022, 2023, and 2024, these benefits include standard healthcare offerings such as medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as more specialized options like health savings accounts (HSAs) and wellness programs aimed at promoting overall well-being. A key aspect of Domino's health benefits strategy is transparency in coverage, which is highlighted through their adherence to the Transparency in Coverage rules, allowing employees to access detailed information about their healthcare plans. This initiative is part of Domino's broader commitment to "putting people first," as outlined in their stewardship reports from 2022 and 2023. Domino's has also been proactive in addressing rising healthcare costs, a common concern across the industry. In 2023, the company faced higher insurance costs, which were one of the contributing factors to increased labor expenses. Despite these challenges, Domino's has worked to maintain a competitive benefits package to support its employees' health and well-being. Recent developments in employee healthcare include adjustments to insurance premiums and a focus on mental health resources, reflecting broader trends in the corporate benefits landscape. Additionally, Domino's has been updating its employee resources and communication channels to ensure that team members are fully informed about their health benefits and how to utilize them effectively.