Seniors are having a rough year so far in terms of health insurance and health care costs. Just last week it was discovered that the costs of their most needed prescription drugs have been raised significantly in the last year. Now it seems that in order to protect their health seniors need a lot more money at retirement than most of them will have.

BusinessWeek reports that Boston-based Fidelity Investments released a study this week that finds that a couple (both partners age 65) retiring this year will need about $225,000 in savings to cover medical costs for the remainder of their lives. That's an increase of 4.7% from the $215,000 estimated for a couple retiring in 2007.

With baby boomers set to retire in upcoming years at record numbers, Medicare is likely to be strained beyond its ability to support their health care needs. In order to cover the rising costs of medication and treatments, many seniors will either turn to supplemental health insurance, or they will struggle to make ends meet.

Hopefully, upcoming legislation aimed at the health insurance industry will make it easier for everyone - including seniors - to get the kind of care they need. In the mean time, the best way to minimize costs is to live a healthy lifestyle, and attend regular doctor's visits to get the kind of support and guidance that we all need, regardless of our age.