Pickleball has become a popular hobby for many adults, but the physicality of the game has led to an increase in hospital visits. To help you understand what is going on and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly-experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest...
Pickleball, America’s hottest new sport, may be driving up health care costs. Chalk it up to exploding popularity, especially among older Americans. About 9 million Americans over the age of 6 played pickleball last year, and over half of avid players (playing eight or more times per year) are age 55 or older, says USA Pickleball, the sport’s governing body. Almost a third of players are 65-plus. Insurers UnitedHealth and Humana recently warned that a jump in medical costs this year was due to higher-than-expected demand for surgeries and other procedures.
Swiss bank UBS concluded that pickleball is a major culprit and will cost the U.S. between $250 million and $500 million this year. The breakdown of the cost estimate: 366,000 outpatient visits, 67,000 emergency room trips, 20,000 post-acute episodes, 8,800 outpatient surgeries and 4,700 hospitalizations. Most injuries occur among folks who are over age 50, say other studies, and can lead to hip, knee and other surgeries.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
- Rising Health Care Costs and the Impact on Soon-to-Be Retirees
- Choosing an Active Adult Community
- What Pickleball Can Teach You About Investing
- Health Care Cost Basics: What They Are and Ways to Save
- Are You Prepared for Health Care Costs While in Retirement?
- An Active, Full Retirement Depends On Proactive Long-Term Planning
-
Is Your Social Security Earnings Record Wrong? Here's How to Fix ItYour Social Security benefits are based on your Social Security earnings record. It's important to review your records to avoid having your benefits reduced.
-
Stock Market Today: Markets Discount Another U.S. DowngradeAfter Friday's closing bell, Moody's followed Standard & Poor's and Fitch and cut its rating on U.S. government debt.
-
Travel Trends You Can Expect This SummerThe Kiplinger Letter Domestic trips will trump foreign travel amid economic uncertainties, though some costs are down.
-
AI Goes To SchoolThe Kiplinger Letter Artificial intelligence is rapidly heading to K-12 classrooms nationwide. Expect tech companies to cash in on the fast-emerging trend.
-
What To Know if You’re in the Market for a New Car This YearThe Kiplinger Letter Buying a new car will get a little easier, but don’t expect many deals.
-
Universal Savings Accounts Are Like Roth IRAs, But With a TwistThe Tax Letter Republican lawmakers and conservative think tanks are proposing a new type of tax-advantaged savings account. Think Roth IRAs, but not just for retirement.
-
Will Lower Mortgage Rates Bring Relief to the Housing Market?The Kiplinger Letter As mortgage rates slowly come down here's what to expect in the housing market over the next year or so.
-
Car Prices Are Finally Coming DownThe Kiplinger Letter For the first time in years, it may be possible to snag a good deal on a new car.
-
New Graduates Navigate a Challenging Labor MarketThe Kiplinger Letter Things are getting tough for new graduates. Job offers are drying up and the jobless rate is increasing. Are internships the answer?
-
QCDs Are a Tax-Smart Way for Retirees To Donate to CharityThe Tax Letter With QCDs, retirees can save on taxes by making donations from their IRAs directly to charity. Here's what you need to know about qualified charitable distributions.
