A retired professional engineer spills some truth about his alarming realizations.

“He is retired, happy, and concerned about America’s future.”

Have a laugh… It happened to me… You will not laugh when it is your turn

My fellow professionals and hardworking producers, a story you might laugh at now but I think it should reveal some shared history and it will possibly become a part of your story soon.

I entered the workforce in the early 1980s. As a young man, I thought that I would work at being a good employee (i.e. I would give up any of my inventions to my employer, I would give up my weekends and nights to improve my skillset and hit “stretch targets”; I would give my employer, within reason, my allegiance, and loyalty) and as a result expect reciprocal care (pay and benefits) from my employer. 

At the time I ignored the evil of company provided health care insurance (other than a comparison between different company compensation packages) but I did see the necessity for health care insurance to help me pay for treatment of illnesses for me and my family.

Though always being employed (and performing well), I did not fit into the mold at company 1, company 2, company 3, or company 4 – be it race, personal stressors, or whatever. Being a first-generation professional, I learned late (after more than one bloody nose from the hard edge of business) that there was to be no golden parachute for me and I needed to deal with the double stressors of saving for my life after I was no longer able or willing to work and the day to day necessity of keeping a job.

Along with the internal mantra of working hard I thought that retirement is a promised way of being, that “anyone” that is lucky to live long enough could achieve. I thought I would retire early (50 was old enough) but through ups and downs in business and in life, as 50 came around I pushed past it knowing I was not ready.

• I had children with college costs that were much higher than I could have fathomed at my own graduation
• I made mistakes as a young man and did not save enough (as I said I learned late)

Now I said before that I did not consider health insurance but to be just a part of a competitive employment package. But about 15 years ago (some 15 years after the death of unions to help independent providers) I was able to get to know what it was like to be an independent “contractor” and the terrible deal the working people had outside my “bubble”. I was slack jawed at the cost of the insurance coverage for someone my age and the appalling level of coverage that person received at that cost. It was a rude awakening for me – the real world outside my privilege was a nightmare. The risk of losing employment became a newly enlarged gorilla, but being empathetic I stood for a change for my fellow workmates and their families that were contractors.

It dawned on me that corporations want us to be kept too dependent so it would be virtually impossible to break away

So given my observations and the renewed retirement date range goal I put my head down and saved and skimped while maintaining my promise as a provider for my family. I did “stand” for healthcare coverage for people who obviously could not afford anything but bad outcomes.

I saved enough I thought. Work became a monster- I choose to quit – end the madness- enough is enough.

Hurray right? I did what I said I needed to do. Nah… How ungrateful right?… a privileged person retires by choice and is bitching about the cost of insurance that he should have included in his cost of retirement. But it is not for me that I am completely outraged …

I have lived in other countries during my work life and know that when my workmates left work with a government provided healthcare payment system that was at a less cost that our (US) own they were well taken care of. Paying $2000+ per month for COBRA continues to astound me, Come on, equal to payment for housing… WHY??! How can my fellow producer and contributor afford it.

Fact is those outside company provided healthcare plans typically can’t and don’t pay for full heathcare. They are one illness or an economic downturn away from disaster.

For me, the pandemic has exposed the outrageous fallacy of a comfortable retirement, but more so it has exacerbated the “Sword of Damocles” that hangs over the heads of my former colleagues and their families as they will lose their jobs or already have.

So for my fellow professional class working in the corporate world that still have a job, that see yourself in any of my story, take a moment and consider the contractor who works beside you, the guy that takes payment from you at the gas station, the nurse that takes your blood pressure. How can this person afford healthcare insurance at the current rates?

When you lose your job or are “retired” (lose your job but unable to find the next employment due to age …or whatever) you are going to be surprised at the cost of health insurance. The stock market and worldwide money system can and will suck up your savings. Above all, consider that COVID – 19 is not the last pandemic.

So what, now what, right? You should consider supporting “Medicare for all” (MFA) as a platform that supports you now and in the future. Why:

• Employer-based health care insurance is not sustainable for you – you are going to leave the job one day -with or without by choice.
  • I do not think it is reasonable to pay COBRA costs equal to the cost of a mortgage for what you thought you needed for healthcare
  • You should not be dependent on working to keep your healthcare
• Insurance’s job is to pay a bill. You do not need CEOs and salespeople to pay that note.