A Calculator for Every Purpose
There are many different
types of life expectancy or longevity calculators designed with different
objectives in mind. While no calculator is 100% accurate, it is important to
choose a tool that is appropriate for your objective.
Medical
Lifespan Calculators - For shorter term life expectancies, these are often
health condition specific and may require healthcare training to use them
effectively.
Statistical
Lifespan Calculators - To calculate longer term life expectancy, these are
appropriate for retirement and financial planning decisions.
Life
Expectancy Tables - Also referred to as Actuarial Life Tables, these are
quick reference charts that provide expected life spans based on one's current
age.
Fun
/ Educational Calculators - Fast and fun to use. Although not necessarily
accurate, these are often helpful to demonstrate how lifestyle choices affect
life expectancy.
There Be Dragons - Words of Caution when
Using Life Expectancy Calculators
They are not 100% accurate. There are many factors that affect life
expectancy which these tools cannot possibly take into account.
They are not all created equal nor are they always based on real data. Be
aware of who provides the calculator and their motivation for building it as
they provide biased results.
Medical lifespan calculators often require healthcare training to interpret
the results and even input the data. While these are available to non-healthcare
professionals, be careful not to make any decisions without an individual
qualified to understand the results assisting.
There are calculators that are designed to capture personal information and
sell you products or affect advertising. We make a strong effort to not link to
any of these sites.
Why Calculate One's Life
Expectancy?
Some people find the concept of life expectancy
calculator to be offensive. However, there are many reasons other than morbid
curiosity for wanting to determine approximately how long one has to live.
For example, if an individual is terminally ill or has a progressive condition such as Alzheimer's and they require long term care, their family will want them to live out their days in an environment where they are most comfortable. Knowing approximately how long care will be required will help the family make the decision whether they can afford to pay for Alzheimer's care or whether they'll need to qualify for Medicaid. One decision might be made with a life expectancy of 6 months and an entirely different decision with a life expectancy of several years. This is especially relevant when it comes to paying for long term care using financial products such as reverse mortgages that have high upfront costs.