Americans Are Living Longer—but Not Ready for It, New MIT AgeLab and John Hancock Research Finds

New Index Introduces Groundbreaking Benchmarks for Thriving Throughout the Aging Journey Across Eight Critical Domains;  Finds Women Are Outpacing Men in Readiness and Planning for Care is a Gap

A groundbreaking new study from the MIT AgeLab and John Hancock reveals that while Americans are living longer than ever, most are woefully unprepared for the realities of an extended lifespan. The inaugural Longevity Preparedness Index (LPI)—the first national benchmark of its kind—found that U.S. adults scored an average of 60 out of 100 when asked how ready they are to thrive later in life across eight key domains.

What the Index Measures

The LPI evaluates readiness across health, finance, care, home, daily activities, community, life transitions, and social connection—areas essential for maintaining quality of life through aging. These dimensions stem from two decades of longevity science conducted at MIT and other universities.

The new data comes as the nation’s 65+ population is on track to grow from 58 million to 82 million by 2050, with many likely to spend nearly a fifth of their lives in poor health. Yet preparedness remains low for critical needs like caregiving, housing, and health management​

The Weak Spots: Care, Home, and Health

Of the eight categories, care (42), home (56), and health (56) earned the lowest preparedness scores—suggesting most Americans are uncertain about who will care for them, where they’ll live, and how they’ll manage their health as they age.kristv+2​

Conversely, community (70) and social connection (69) were the strongest domains, reflecting Americans’ ability to maintain friendships and community engagement, both crucial for emotional and cognitive longevity.​

Gender and Financial Insights

The research revealed distinct gender differences: women scored higher than men in non-financial readiness areas such as caregiving, social connections, and adaptability to life transitions. Men slightly outperformed women in financial preparedness. The findings also reflected strong correlations between preparedness and income, education, and family structure—with higher earners and parents generally better equipped for longevity.

Dr. Joseph Coughlin, founder and director of MIT AgeLab, noted that “Longevity is now one-third of adult life—and that demands new routines, new support systems, and a new mindset for what late life can look like.” The LPI, he said, is meant to “spark public awareness and action to prepare people for living longer—better”. ​

John Hancock Vitality Program

 John Hancock will soon be providing Manulife John Hancock Retirement plan participants access to some of the leading health and wellness resources currently offered to Vitality members through their life insurance policies, including:

• Access to GRAIL's multi-cancer early detection test, Galleri^®, a simple blood test that screens for a "fingerprint" of many of the deadliest cancers before they become symptomatic, including cancers with no recommended screening tests today. In 2022, John Hancock became the first life insurer to offer customers access to Galleri.

  
  

• Discounted access to Garmin products, which offer detailed health and wellness insights to support fitness goals. John Hancock Vitality customers have had access to discounted Garmin technology since the start of the program.

  
  

• Free access to the Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, a subscription-based publication providing honest, reliable, scientifically authoritative health and nutrition information published each month by the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, which has been available to John Hancock life insurance customers since 2016.

  
  

Brooks Tingle, CEO of John Hancock, added that the findings highlight the need to go beyond traditional financial planning: “It’s no longer just about savings and health. Where you’ll live, who will care for you, and how you’ll fill your days are equally essential parts of longevity planning.”

A Five-Year Collaboration

The Longevity Preparedness Index is part of a five-year research partnership between John Hancock and the MIT AgeLab. The companies plan to update the national index annually and explore interventions that improve readiness across all eight domains.

John Hancock also plans to roll out new longevity-focused programs for retirement customers, including access to multi-cancer early detection tests, wearable fitness device integrations, and education on financial wellness and aging-in-place strategies.

Redefining What It Means to “Age Well”

The inaugural LPI reframes longevity not simply as a medical or financial issue, but as a multidimensional life challenge requiring coordinated planning across personal, social, and community levels. As Dr. Coughlin summarized, “Living longer should not mean living in crisis. Preparedness—not just lifespan—is the new measure of success”.