Many of the nation’s 77 million boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — are worried about being able to pay their medical bills as they move into their “golden years,” a new poll finds.

According to the Associated Press–LifeGoesStrong.com poll, 43 percent of boomers polled said they were “very” or “extremely” worried about being able to pay for their medical costs, including long-term care. The oldest boomers are turning 65 this year.

A study by Fidelity Investments estimated that a 65-year-old couple retiring this year with Medicare coverage would need $230,000, on average, to cover medical expenses in retirement. The estimate factors in the federal program’s premiums, co-payments and deductibles, as well as out-of-pocket prescription costs.

Some 83 percent of boomers polled said they do not have long-term care insurance, a private policy that helps pay for nursing homes or in-home care costs not covered by Medicare. Costs for such insurance can range from $1,000 to $8,000 a year, depending on age, health conditions, policy term and other factors.

“It’s a tough sell,” says Paul Fronstin, director of health research and education at the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute. “Even someone in their 60s might look at it and say it’s going to be 20 years before I need long-term care, so why buy it now?”

To combat financial concerns, and avoid drawing on their nest eggs, many people beyond 65 are still working. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 29.1 percent of people aged 65 to 69 worked at least part-time last year. And almost 7 percent of people aged 75 or older were employed in 2010. — ap