Americans today are living older than in the past: In 1950, life expectancy for Americans was 68 years old, and in 2024 it’s nearly 80. Of course, many people live to be older than that. The number of Americans ages 100 and older is projected to more than quadruple over the next three decades according to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau. A longer, healthier life is certainly a blessing, but it comes with extra costs that are important to consider when creating a retirement plan.