Should be a no-brainer for our elected leaders because doing it will yield two desirable outcomes: (1) More affordable health care for more people, and (2) more job opportunities for young people:
Three-quarters of retirees said they worked longer than they would have otherwise to maintain access to their health plan. A majority of current workers agreed with a statement that said they “planned to work longer than you would like in order to continue receiving health insurance through your employer.”
Yes, the olds can retire early if they want and get guaranteed access to health care starting next year, but they'll also find (as I have) that they're going to be paying a hell of a lot more for their coverage than they would have under an employer-based plan. I've managed to score coverage now that my COBRA benefits have lapsed, but my monthly premium has increased by a factor of four over what I paid at my last full-time corporate gig---and from what I gather, that's more the rule than the exception. That kind of "sticker shock" is not only going to prevent a lot of older people from retiring early, it will make it harder for them to save for their retirement once they do. Plus, as mentioned, hanging onto your job for five or ten years longer than you'd like keeps a lot of younger people out of the workplace, which is not a good thing, especially now.
---Baron V
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