This paper was stimulated by the Editorial of Dr Vince FitzGerald in the last issue of AHR on health aspects of a comprehensive retirement policy (FitzGerald 2000). His main arguments were that increased retirement savings are desirable, that there should be savings specifically for health care, and that the health savings should be a mix of pooled and individual savings. He justified savings mainly on the grounds of economic prudence and equity for our children.