50+ face discrimination in the workplace that could be eliminated if they could opt into Medicare

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

This population finds it extra difficult to find employment due to the fact that many employers look at them and think their group medical costs will go up, even though this is one of the most productive, knowledgeable age brackets out there. This is also the demographic that is close to being official pariahs in the private health insurance world.

We could end this problem tomorrow if Medicare were expanded to include early coverage for anyone 50 and over. I'm not saying free, I'm saying make a buy-in available. It would also make it possible for many to take on part time employment and not worry about healthcare or to utilize their experience as self-employed contractors, consultants, etc.

How hard could this be to do? I'm thinking not very hard.

[havocmom]

1. You are a one-woman advocacy team for sane policy!

Happy to Rec; Will be happy to kick this evening.

You go girl! :thumbsup:

[corpseratemedia]

2. Another blatantly obvious fact that the middle-aged and older teabirthdeathers miss

[andym]

3. well here is one possible amendment from the Finance committee

Believe it or not, the Finance committee was "considering a provision that would allow people ages 55-64 who otherwise wouldn't qualify for Medicare to "buy in" to the program for a limited time."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-health-care-chartjul26,0,1415531.story

Now it should not be temporary and the costs to "buy in" should be reasonable. But the idea is out there. This should be pushed.

[Donnachaidh]

6. the costs shouldn't be any more than other recipients pay

which from my records is 90 bucks a month.

[glitch]

4. Brilliant point. Someone in political power should be making it repeatedly. K & R nt

[jody]

5. Do you have a credible source supporting your subject's assertion? n/t

[stopbush]

7. That would certainly work for me.

I turn 55 next month. My employer currently pays for my health insurance to the tune of $600 per month. My wife (also 55) and kids were on her COBRA, which cost me $755 a month. As of October, she's going on part-time employee benefits at her job. That will cost $250-300 a month for her.

Surely, were the two of us to go on some form of Medicare it wouldn't cost us $1300 a month. We could put our school-aged kids on stand-alone private insurance for about $200-300 per month to cover both of them.

I've already spoken with my boss, and they really don't care what insurance I'm on. They would love to not have to shell out $600 a month. If they saved even $100 a month, they'd be happy. I'd think that $500 a month should be more than enough to cover my wife & I in a Medicare plan. In effect, my job would cut me a check that paid for wifey and I, and I'd handle the kids.

$300 per month v $755 a month out of my pocket to cover the whole family is a big savings for us.

Oh, yeah: my wife had cancer surgery 5 years ago, and that's considered a pre-existing condition even though she's never had a return of the condition. Private insurers have all trurned us down when we sought to get her off that expensive COBRA.

[DCKit]

10. "$300 per month v $755 a month out of my pocket to cover the whole family is a big savings for us."

And a real boon to the economy, too.

The impact of shifting this huge pot of money from the insurance companies, who produce NOTHING, to the consumer economy.... Yikes.

[stopbush]

17. Yep. I might even be able to replace one of our cars

with something newer. Our cars are 14 and 10 years old, respectively.

At least they're paid for.

[Demit]

8. I heard this proposed a few weeks ago, on Bill Moyers.

A woman was saying it could be done incrementally—lower the age to 55 for a couple of years, then to 45 for a couple of years, and so on. I think NY Congressman Weiner has suggested this as well. It's simple, sensible, and it would be easy to implement because the structure is already in place.

Medicare, the program 65s and older love. The program that has been so successful. A system of healthcare that has only 3-4% administrative costs. When I only hear this idea publicized in a few (two) scattered places, I know that the moneyed interests who would stand to lose their enormous profits are using their enormous power to scare and/or bribe our cowed and/or greedy elected officials. Our votes don't mean as much to career politicians as the threat of campaign money being withdrawn. It's a disgrace and it makes me sick.

[Demit]

9. sorry, double post. nt

[notadmblnd]

11. I do happen to come with my own health insurance

and still haven't been able to find a job. My benefits are provided by my deceased husband's company. I turned 50 this year and have been actively looking for almost two years. BTW, I only need to make 10 dollars an hour to make up what I lost as a result of my son turning 16.

[SoCalDem]

12. This is why the paternalistic "marketplace" has to change

It needs to go back to being task-fulfillment based.

Bosses should NOT have life&death power over their employees. they should not CARE what the employee does "off the job", how much they weigh, who they live with, what meds they take (unless it affects their ability to do the task assigned).

Company-provided medical plans have intruded into the private lives of people like almost nothing else.

If the BOSS pays more than YOU do, for you health care, he DOES have some right to have a say in your personal "habits". If he's paying you $xx.xx an hour to do whatever, and nothing else, your private life is none of his business.. Right now, it IS his business if the insurance company charges him based on who his employees are, and how the live their lives, what drugs they take, what illnesses they have, how old they are, etc.

[lamp_shade]

13. That would be me. Age 63 and jobless. Forced to take SS early and praying to God

that my health holds up for the next two years.

[madrchsod]

15. i just retired at 62 but thank whoever my wife carries our insurance

[TexasObserver]

14. Recommend ... great idea!

[dysfunctional press]

16. the entire american workforce would be better positioned to compete globally...

if EVERYONE could opt into medicare.

[CrispyQ]

18. Some acquaintances of mine, who are very well off, not rich, but certainly upper, upper middle class

are in their early fifties & for the first time in their lucrative careers, they are finding that they are not as easily employable as they have been in the past. For the first time ever, they are concerned about how they are going to afford health insurance.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

20. Their question will be not just how can they afford it, but can they get it in the first place?

I have it on good authority from someone in a similar situation, a healthy over 50 person, that because they are unemployed they DO NOT QUALIFY for any policy other than a 6 month high deductable catastrophic insurance that is so limited it makes no point in purchasing in the first place. It is all but worthless. Wait til your friends find that out.

[TahitiNut]

19. At the same rate seniors pay, but not subsidized, it'd cost less than $400/mo currently.

That's better than most 50+ could get on the private market. The next question would be about dependents ... and family coverage.

[Liberal In Texas]

21. Although I'd love to see this, sadly it won't end age discrimination in the workplace.

Health costs are only one reason employers don't like older workers. People who have been with the company for awhile have more vacation days and higher pay rates just because they've been able to endure and not get fired or laid off. Many supervisors are younger than many of the people they're supervising these days, and younger supervisors tend to favor those more like themselves. This goes with hiring too. People many times get hired on looks and the perception of vigor rather than on experience and knowledge.

[undeterred]

22. Absolutely.

I am in this group and I am sure that I am being discriminated against for my age. Some HR people have a mandate to keep the average age of employees well below 40 for their health insurance carrier. Its that way a lot of places.

[undeterred]

23. Absolutely!

[mopinko]

24. i have been saying this for YEARS!

no idea why they wouldn't want to do that, and be able to strengthen the whole system at the same time.
we also ought to allow buy-ins to social security. treat it just like an annuity, voluntary extra payment, taken out of your paycheck, up to the max. especially for dependent spouses, or disabled children.

[ShadesOfGrey]

25. Great idea! K&R

[PA Democrat]

26. As someone in that age group, a big K & R!

[DailyGrind51]

27. Thank you!