Encore: Work that matters in the second half of life.

Healthcare has been the biggest deterrent in the 12 years  since i left the corporate world at age 45.  I was covered by cobra for only two of those years and since then it has been a hodge podge of different plans—all of which i tried not to use so paid for most everything myself so i would not get canceled.  Now that my husband is on medicare i have another 8 years to worry about not getting sick.  Thus, although i do a great deal to stay healthy, if something seems a bit off, I find i do  not readily go to a doctor so i won’t have a preexisting condition. I know this is wrong but i have been rejected too many times by insurance companies and as i get older the rates get higher and choices slimmer. I have found, however, that sometimes if you press, the insurance company will back off—i had one that did not want to cover major parts of my body even though the test the doctor ran showed  nothing serious.  At least i can afford the catastropic/health savings acct plan that i have. Sadly i have many friends who are wasting away in their jobs but cannot break free because of the need for health care.  I believe that corporations would have to treat employees better if they were divorced from providing healthcare because a great number would find other means.

I recently read that a member of the DNC was quoted as saying don’t expect any of the candidates to make any changes in health care. The insurance companies are too politically entrenched, and will not allow any major changes to the current system. Just like the new democratic majority in Congress has done little to end the Iraq war because of the military-indutrial complex. I’m afraid, unless campaign finance reform becomes a reality, there’s not much hope for any gains by the declining middle class.

As to how I maintain health care for my son and wife during my encore transition, I pay exhorbitant insurance rates for slightly less than catastrophic coverage. Fortunately, I am personally covered by Medicare and VA health care. BTW, I have had VA health care for almost two years now, and it is far better than any health care I ever received through the many insurance providers I’ve had over the years. I even have valet parking! The customer service has been great with very few exceptions, unlike having to wait hours in a waiting room for my doctor to return from some priority that must have paid more than my visit. The profit motivated health care industry has no incentive to keep the population healthy, or they would go out of business. So I am very pleased that my VA doctor never tries to push meds at me, like all past physicians have done.

I think our economic system has failed us in so many ways, health care is just one of the major areas people have lost ground. If it weren’t for rising transportation cost and a declining dollar, medical tourism would be booming. Maybe that will become the norm in the future, travel to exotic Calcutta, and have your hip replaced as a bonus offer! Also if you take your trip at off peak tourist time, we’ll give a you a carbon credit voucher for the trip! lol

Joe Wasylyk Seniorpreneur

This topic is very near to my heart because I strongly believe that BASIC Health care coverage is a Human Right and not something that is to be bought and sold in the marketplace through often mis-leading health care insurance companies.  Living in Canada without the availability of Universal Health Care I would definitely find it very difficult to pursue the ‘Seniorpreneur Project‘ goal during my Encore transition.  Not only am I blessed to get Universal Health Care but it was recently announced by the Government of Alberta in Canada that ALL Health Care Insurance Premiums in this Province will be terminated by January 1, 2009.  I only hope that more Americans will rise up and protest against their unfair treatment in the health care area; and only then will there be a smoother trasnsition into the Encore phase of life.  And, not having to worry about their personal health care support this leaves people with more time AND money to use for concentrating on a more creative and productive life for the benefit of all Society.

Health care coverage in encore phase of life is a huge issue. The system is broken and for someone over 55 this can be a frightening and frustrating problem. We shall see what the next election brings us in terms of relief in this health care/benefits mess.

Because I retired early I did not benefit from a retirement health care plan from my wonderful company…I accept that totally. I went on COBRA for one year and in that time looked for alternatives – all choices were/are "less than" coverage I was accustomed to in my work years. I also looked into professional association health care plan offerings…and although these also were not acceptable, I think this may be the future, particularly if you are not ready to establish a small business LLc (in my state if you are LLC showing revenue you have some other options available to you.) Freelancers just starting out and like-minded individuals (e.g., Encore associates) perhaps can band together to form groups that insurance companies recognize and support.

I eventually used a broker, and now pay dearly for what I consider average coverage. In fact, I was accepted in one plan but my husband was not - we needed two different plans.  After working more than three decades, supporting the system in so many ways, this should not be the outcome.