May 05, 2010
That is a question that the Post should have asked in an article that reported on the Obama administration’s plan to set aside $5 billion to help cover the cost of employer provided health care benefits for retirees who are not yet 65 and eligible for Medicare. The article tells readers that there are 2 million retirees under age 65 who are currently receiving benefits from their employer.
Since this $5 billion is the total amount available for the three years from 2011 until 2014, it means that there will be just under $1.7 billion available per year, or less than $900 per retiree per year. Health care costs for people in this age group average well over $10,000 a year, which means that this money will cover on average less than 9 percent of costs.
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