Thread: U.S. Pension Ruling

In the last couple of decades it has bee better to plan on our own. We're on our own, and that's OK. This ruling is nothing new. But it will affect some folks that are older now, who thought their pension would cover their medical costs, which are so expensive in the US. Note near the bottom of this article, that health care costs for employer premiums in the U.S. have risen 78 percent since 2001.

U.S. Ruling Backs Benefit Cut at 65 in Retiree Plans

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: December 27, 2007


WASHINGTON — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday that employers could reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare.


The policy, set forth in a new regulation, allows employers to establish two classes of retirees, with more comprehensive benefits for those under 65 and more limited benefits — or none at all — for those older.
More than 10 million retirees rely on employer-sponsored health plans as a primary source of coverage or as a supplement to Medicare, and Naomi C. Earp, the commission’s chairwoman, said, “This rule will help employers continue to voluntarily provide and maintain these critically important health benefits.”


Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 6.1 percent this year and have increased 78 percent since 2001, according to surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Because of the rising cost of health care and the increased life expectancy of workers, the commission said, many employers refuse to provide retiree health benefits or even to negotiate on the issue.


In general, the commission observed, employers are not required by federal law to provide health benefits to either active or retired workers.

Entire: U.S. Ruling Backs Benefit Cut at 65 in Retiree Plans - New York Times