Article • Dean Baker’s Beat the Press
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In an article explaining why older people are increasingly deciding to work the Washington Post neglected to mention the cost of health care. If a person over 55 is not getting health care insurance through their employer, the cost of insurance would typically be more than $10,000 per year per person and several times this amount for people with a pre-existing condition. The rising cost of care and the sharp decline in the percentage of workers with retiree health benefits is undoubtedly a major factor behind the decision of more older workers to remain in the workforce.