Our Letter to Congress
Senator Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
Senator Mitch McConnell
Senate Minority Leader
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House
Representative John A. Boehner
House Minority Leader
The nation needs healthcare reform. Congress has begun the job, but it is time now to complete the task. All Americans must have access to quality, affordable healthcare. But not all Americans face the same healthcare challenges. One group – less noticed – should not be overlooked.
Right now, approximately 33 million Americans are between ages 55-64. They are in their “Bridge Years” – moving from full employment towards the retirement benefits available only to older Americans. They are workers; they are small business owners; they are parents; they care for parents. Their median income is dropping and their health is declining. Many are in financial jeopardy – retirement savings slashed by falling equity markets, worried about whether they will able to keep their jobs, providing for older and younger dependents and, if they are retired, concerned about the stability of their retirement benefits.
The availability and cost of health insurance can be the difference between a secure retirement and economic collapse. If these Americans lose their jobs, they find it very difficult to find permanent and affordable health care coverage. Finding a new job is difficult particularly at a time of high unemployment. Medicare is, of course, not available to this population – they are “too young.” But private insurers view them as “old” and higher risk– resulting in significantly higher premiums than their younger counterparts (often five times the premium for young adults). Those who are fortunate enough to obtain coverage face out-of-pocket costs that are much higher than what they previously incurred under an employer plan, and new coverage often excludes pre-existing conditions altogether. Among those 60-64, nearly one of three applicants for insurance in the individual market is completely denied coverage. This is a recipe for personal economic disaster.
We applaud the push for health care reform as many of the policy options currently on the table are very promising. As health care reform moves forward, we are encouraging policymakers to recognize three policy options that are particularly important to Americans in their Bridge Years:
- Affordable Health Insurance Gateways or Exchanges which offer a choice of plans subject to certain new rules such as an age rating limit and elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions;
- A government funded reinsurance program that will offer cost relief to employers who offer retiree health benefits; and
- Subsidies for low income and disabled Americans.
Coverage for Americans in their Bridge Years is one step in the bigger journey to complete reform for all Americans. And that, of course, must be the goal to which we are all committed.
Sincerely,
The Bridge Years Health Coalition
Last Update: 09/09/09
