FAQs on RMDs: What Universal Health Services Employees Need to Know

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Universal Health Services: Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) operates as one of the largest healthcare providers in the United States, managing a vast network of over 400 acute care hospitals and behavioral health facilities. It offers various services across both sectors, catering to a diverse range of medical needs. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026: In 2026, Universal Health Services employees may face significant increases in healthcare costs, as various external factors continue to exert pressure on the insurance market. With anticipated record premium hikes in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace-some states reporting increases over 60%-if existing enhanced federal subsidies expire, over 22 million enrollees could see their out-of-pocket premiums surge by as much as 75%. Concurrently, rising medical costs driven by surges in hospital and pharmaceutical expenses will likely compel employers, including UHS, to adjust their benefit structures, potentially shifting more financial responsibility onto employees. This convergence of forces makes 2026 a pivotal year for healthcare affordability. Click here to learn more

'RMDs may feel restrictive, but for Universal Health Services employees they also create structured opportunities to rebalance portfolios, manage taxable income, and strengthen long-term planning.' – Paul Bergeron, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

'By treating RMDs as a planning tool rather than just a tax requirement, Universal Health Services employees can use them to create flexibility in withdrawals and align retirement income with broader financial goals.' – Tyson Mavar, a representative of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement.

In this article, we will discuss:

1. Which retirement accounts are subject to RMDs and recent legislative changes.

2. Strategies that Universal Health Services employees can use to manage the tax impact of RMDs.

3. How market conditions and long-term planning interact with RMD requirements.

By Wealth Enhancement Group's Brent Wolf

RMDs, or required minimum distributions, are a critical consideration for retirement income planning. Because they are required, they are sometimes seen as burdensome, but they also offer opportunities for careful money management. For Universal Health Services employees, understanding how RMDs work and incorporating them into a broader strategy can help improve portfolio efficiency and mitigate long-term tax impacts.

Accounts Subject to RMDs

Traditional tax-deferred retirement accounts, which are funded with pre-tax contributions and grow tax-deferred, fall under RMD rules. These include SEP IRAs, 403(b) plans, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, and traditional IRAs. Once individuals reach a certain age, withdrawals are mandatory. Roth accounts stand out as exceptions. Roth IRAs remain permanently free of RMDs, while Roth 401(k) plans are also exempt under recent legislation. For Universal Health Services workers nearing retirement, this exemption may enhance the role that Roth accounts can play as long-term planning tools, since assets can continue growing without taxable withdrawals.

Changing Ages for RMDs

The age at which retirees must begin taking RMDs has shifted in recent years. For decades, it was 70½. It later increased to 72, and then to the current age of 73. Beginning in 2033, the starting age will move again to 75. For Universal Health Services retirees, these adjustments provide more flexibility and open a wider window to implement strategies such as Roth conversions, systematic withdrawals, or portfolio rebalancing before RMDs take effect.

Why RMDs Are Often Disliked

RMDs are unpopular among retirees who don't require the funds for their current living expenses because they trigger taxable income. This added income can push retirees into higher tax brackets, raising their overall tax burden. For Universal Health Services employees with substantial retirement savings, RMDs can also affect Medicare costs through higher income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) surcharges. In many cases, RMDs represent a significant annual tax consideration for households.

Techniques to Manage RMDs

Although RMDs for traditional accounts cannot be fully eliminated, several approaches can help reduce their taxable impact:

• Pre-Retirement Diversification:  Spreading savings across Roth accounts, taxable brokerage accounts, and traditional retirement plans may lower future RMD obligations.

• The Early Retirement Window:  For those who stop working before 73, the years between retirement and the first RMD are often lower-income years—ideal for Roth conversions or accelerated withdrawals at more favorable tax rates.

• Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs):  Starting at 70½, IRA owners can direct RMD distributions directly to qualified charities, rather than taking them themselves, reducing taxable income while meeting RMD requirements and achieving charitable goals.

• Still Working Past 73:  Employees still working at Universal Health Services after age 73 may be able to delay RMDs on their active employer plan.

• Legacy Planning:  Roth conversions, even after RMDs start, can lower the taxable inheritance left to beneficiaries, aiding in estate planning.

Market Conditions and RMDs

A common question is whether market downturns affect RMD amounts. The answer is no—RMDs are based on account balances as of December 31 of the prior year. Short-term fluctuations do not alter the required withdrawal. While Congress has occasionally suspended RMDs during crises, such as in the pandemic, these suspensions remain rare.

Turning RMDs Into Opportunities

Although RMDs are mandatory, they can be reframed as tools for portfolio management. By selling from overweighted positions, retirees can meet their RMD while also rebalancing. For Universal Health Services retirees with large equity allocations, this may mean using withdrawals to trim stock-heavy portfolios in favor of diversification.

Additionally, funds withdrawn through RMDs need not sit idle. If not required for daily expenses, they can be reinvested into a Roth IRA (subject to eligibility) or taxable brokerage account. This reinvestment can help maintain long-term portfolio growth.

Conclusion

While RMDs are often viewed as mandatory tax obligations, Universal Health Services employees can approach them strategically. Diversifying account types before retirement, making use of early retirement years, using QCDs, and considering Roth conversions all provide ways to manage the impact. When integrated into a broader financial plan, RMDs can serve as both compliance and opportunity—helping retirees sustain portfolio health, mitigate taxes, and extend financial growth into the future.

Custodians typically calculate RMD amounts and provide reminders, but the responsibility to take the correct distribution rests with the account holder. By anticipating these requirements and using them to rebalance or reinvest, Universal Health Services retirees can approach RMDs as part of a proactive retirement strategy.

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Sources:

Internal Revenue Service.  Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).  U.S. Department of the Treasury, Mar. 19, 2025. pp. 6–7, 37.  https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b

Myers, Elizabeth A.  Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rules for Original Owners of Retirement Accounts.  Congressional Research Service, 29 Aug. 2024. p. 1.  https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12750

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  Medicare Costs 2025.  CMS Product No. 11579, Dec. 2024. pp. 2–3.  https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2025-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles

Social Security Administration.  Form SSA-44: Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — Life-Changing Event.  SSA, Dec. 2024. pp. 1, 5–7.  https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44.pdf

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.  Thinking About Rolling Over Funds From Your Thrift Savings Plan? Consider This.  FINRA, Nov. 2024. p. 2.  https://www.finra.org/investors/military/retirement/roll-over-tsp