I’m a long-term investor. Like Warren Buffett, I’d love to hold a stock forever. Even if that’s not likely, I do expect to keep a stock in my portfolio for five years minimum – preferably 10.

So not only do I look for great businesses, but I want to be invested in sectors with strong long-term fundamentals.

I can’t think of a stronger sector than healthcare.

Sure, technology is vital to our economy and is a source of growth. I like technology.

But can you think of a sector whose products will be more in demand over the coming decades than healthcare?

You may have heard this statistic: Roughly 10,000 people turn 65 every day.

One thing we know is that the older we get, the more healthcare we consume. Whether it’s from doctor visits, prescriptions or artificial joints, older people and their insurance companies spend a lot on healthcare.

In fact, the average retired couple will spend more than a quarter of a million dollars out of pocket on healthcare. And Medicare and other insurances will spend a lot more.

It’s not an understatement when we say your health is the most important thing.

So it makes sense to find the best healthcare companies to invest in for the long term. And since I’m the dividend guy, I want these top companies to pay dividends as well.

Let’s take a look at a few different areas within healthcare for some ideas on where to make money over the long term.

Biotech

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) is a rare biotech in that it pays a dividend. It’s a blue chip biotech company that has been in business for 37 years and is very profitable.

Amgen has 16 approved products, including Xgeva for osteoporosis and bone cancer, Neulasta for boosting white blood cells during chemotherapy and Enbrel for rheumatoid arthritis.

Additionally, it has 31 drugs in clinical trials. Amgen is also working on six biosimilars, which are generic biotech drugs. Biosimilars could be big revenue generators as patients and insurers look for cheaper alternatives to expensive biotech drugs.

The stock yields 2.7%.

Medical Devices

Though it still has pharmaceuticals in its product portfolio, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is focusing more on medical devices, diagnostics and consumer products.

Its consumer products division makes Ensure, a nutritional drink for adults that is often used to supplement patients’ diets.

Its vascular unit has a variety of drug-eluting stents, guide wires and other products.

And Abbott’s diagnostic tools are used in oncology, genetic testing and infectious diseases.

The company has been around for 125 years. The stock yields 2.1%.

Services

Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE: OHI) is one of my favorite companies in healthcare.

Omega Healthcare owns real estate that is leased by nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It’s important to understand that Omega Healthcare doesn’t operate the nursing homes; it is the nursing homes’ landlord.

It is expected that roughly one-third of all baby boomers will spend time in a nursing home or assisted living facility at some point in their lives.

Demand for beds in these places will be huge. Omega is poised to profit on this enormous trend.

The stock has a fat 8.3% yield and has raised its dividend for 15 years in a row.

Healthcare stocks should definitely have a place in your long-term portfolio. The “silver tsunami” is one of the most significant trends that will affect the markets and the economy over the next several decades.

These stocks and others will thrive as seniors spend more on feeling good and feeling better.

And you’ll feel great generating profits and dividends from these and other healthcare stocks.

Good investing,

Marc