USA : The circumstances for retirees are changing – a significant number of companies have ended their health benefits for their retirees and/or have increased their premiums. Retirees’, whether from recently times or decades ago, find that their positions are no longer secure. Since 1997, there has been a decrease of more than 10% in the number of employees are offered retiree health benefits, showing a continued downwards trend.

That said, there are ways to deal with the situation. Unexpected events happen, and, to a point, we have to be ready for them. Retirees are encouraged to look into Medicare (if eligible), the Affordable Care Act, and/or private insurance plans. Preparations and back-up plans are highly recommend as preparation as there is no solution after this occurs. In other words, it’s time to ‘plan for the unexpected’. Many retirees who haven’t planned sufficiently have found that selling unused valuables around the house is an feasible option, though it is mainly used as a last resort.

Overall, retirees find themselves mad at their former employers – they have worked many years, decades even, only to ‘have the rug pulled out’ from under their feet, especially when the companies are not having any financial difficulties.