Couples who retire this year can expect to pay 8 percent less in health-care costs over the course of their retirement, thanks in large measure to health-care reform, according to an estimate from Fidelity Investments. It’s the first drop since 2002, when Fidelity first started making the estimate.

Fidelity says retiring couples around the age of 65 will need an average of about $230,000 to cover medical expenses for their retirement years, excluding nursing-home expenses. The decline stems from the Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, both of which were signed in 2010 and are expected to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses for many seniors who purchase prescription drugs.

Until this year the estimated cost had increased an average of 6 percent annually. And Fidelity forecasts that the cost will rise again next year, because of climbing medical expenses.

Fidelity Investments