(form letter)
The Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act (H.R. 1322), which would make corporations live up to the financial commitments they made to their employees during their working years, should be a part of any health care reform legislation.
I worked for Bell Atlantic for 25 years and was consistently told that my health care benefits in retirement would be taken care of by the company. During my career I accepted less in wages and paid time off with the understanding that I would receive a retirement package that would include health insurance.
The Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act would make companies live up to the commitments made to their employees and retirees. Those who had their health benefits canceled by their former employer would have earned benefits restored.
Eight million retirees nationwide have already lost their earned health care benefits when their former employers canceled them. Most galling is the federal government said this is perfectly legal. Another 18.5 million retirees and baby boomers like me are hanging by a thread.
Many Americans are rightly enraged about the proposed health care reform plans. Retirees are among the largest group making their voice heard. In the last decade nearly 8 million retirees have seen their earned health care benefits, which they sacrificed wages and paid time off to achieve, canceled by their former employers. The federal government said that this was perfectly legal.
In recent years, the federal government has provided companies with a back door bailout by allowing them to simply dump the financial commitments owed to their former employees. Any health care reform legislation must protect and guarantee these earned benefits.
I stayed with my employer because they promised that my health care would be taken care of in retirement. It is unethical for companies to break this financial commitment.
I support health care reform that protects American retirees’ earned benefits. I support H.R. 1322. We retirees should not become this Congress’ doughnut hole.
Linda Harden-Lantz
Greeneville, Tenn.
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