anyone been forced to retire early by the economy and job market?

[Morwyn_7]

Originally Posted by Escort Rider

Since we are more likely to see a doctor and/or have lab work during the course of a given year than we are to be hospitalized, perhaps we tend to overlook what our co-pays are for hospitalization. And perhaps that would explain some differences in the routine, mundane costs. For example, my Kaiser plan in Los Angles County has very low routine costs:
Monthly premium (in addition to Medicare Part B): zero
Physician (including specialist) visits: $5
Lab work: $15
Emergency room or outpatient surgery fee: $50

But if we look at my hospitalization, I will pay a $125 co-pay for each of the first ten days, after which it is free (for the rest of the year). So if I am ever hospitalized for ten days I will have to shell out $1,250. This is still reasonable, in my opinion, in light of the other low costs, but this may make a difference in doing comparisons.

I would be curious to know how this stacks up against the Kaiser plan in Sacramento, and of course I could answer my own question by going to www.medicare.gov.

LOL hope you did as I do not have time to look up the specifics right now. Plus my main point was the vast differences in cost from one area to another within the same HMO system.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

You never know. We had a good friend who worked as a pharmacist until he was 69 and then came down with pancreatic cancer and died at 70. He had just decided to cash in when he turned 70. Very sad.

I scan the obituary columns every day, with a sense of wonderment. Those who were days/weeks away from their early retirment check, those days/weeks away from their first check at 65 or 66, and those that were awaiting the grand prize at 70!

If we could only speaketh with the deadest!!!