Retiree Health Benefits a Thing of the Past

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Can someone please tell me what, if anything, does the USPS contribute to the cost of health care for retirees and what this constant reference to the cost of future retiree health benefits is referring to. I was told by HR personnel at the time of retirement application that no portion of health care was provided. Any information on this matter would be appreciated. Thanks.

of 4:25PM July 21, 2011

Barry,
I think you are going in the wrong direction. The objective should not be to deprive ever more people of health insurance but to increase the numbers of people, both public and private employees, with access to this benefit. Insuring all employees through a single payer universal health insurance program could be funded by redirecting current funds used to insure public employees and a 'per worker' tax levied on all private employers. The 'per worker' tax on private employers would be more than compensated for by these employers not having to pay for their employees insurance through for profit insurance companies as most do now. Small businesses might be compensated by tax credits for their mandatory participation in the program. A government funded retraining and hiring program would ameliorate the unemployment that would result for those working in the health insurance industry and would be phased out after the transition period.

RobertC of CA 7:56PM November 12, 2008

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swmotab042 of GA 12:25AM May 03, 2008

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swmotab042 of GA 12:25AM May 03, 2008

How unfair is is that PRIVATE-SECTOR employees have lost (or shortly will lose) retiree health insurance, but they, as TAXPAYERS, still are force to pay (via their taxes) for the retiree benefits of Federal, State, County, and Municipal civil servants.
The enormous transferance of wealth from the private sector to civil servants is an injustice that MUST be stopped.
Unfortunately, an EFFECTIVE way to encourage universal healthcare (equally and fairly) for EVERYONE, is to TAKE IT AWAY from all these civil servants. Why/how, you ask???
Because their outrage and cohisiveness in demanding its return will be to loud for our politicians to ignor. Then and only then, can all of us share equally in the fruits of our labors as well as the sacrifices needed to address the overly generous (and unfunded) promises made in past years.

barry of NJ 1:34PM April 25, 2008

And, THIS, folks, is among the most important reasons you need a Democratic president seated together with a Democratic Congress on 1/20/09. This need is actually more acute for younger people than for those who are already old.
Say what? Well, it's the kids and the grandkids who will first lose the modest inheritances and who will then be further called upon to "help" the folks after corporatized medicine vacuums up every last cent from the elder end of familes.
We need socialized medicine to prevent a massive weath shift from extended familes to corporations. If you don't believe me, read the article above again and ask yourself how many couples have or will have the extra quarter-million just lying around for health care. It's time to re-define American health care on real "family values". This year. This election. You may not get another chance.

Daniel David of NM 3:47PM April 23, 2008