Seniors to be Hit with Age Tax on Healthcare

by:Lynn Jolly 
When it comes to employment or housing, no one is legally permitted to discriminate based upon skin color, age, sex, sexual orientation or religion. At least that’s what the laws say. 

However, try going out and finding a decent paying job when you’re over 55-years of age and you’ll quickly discover that age is a discriminating factor. They get around it by citing other criteria, but it’s obvious that it’s often difficult to just get a consideration or foot in the door if you’re an older person.
Trust, me, I know. It’s also possible to be discriminated against for one’s religious beliefs in the job market, yet once again, employers find another way of explaining why you were suddenly rejected.
Some years ago, I applied for an online teaching position as a college biology instructor. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife/Fisheries Management and Master’s Degree in Biology, with my field of study being population genetics. Everything was looking good for the online instructor’s position until the college realized I am a young-earth creationist, and then suddenly I was rejected and told the position was already filled.

Back to age discrimination. Although it’s illegal to discriminate based on age, it’s a common practice in many areas of life. Senior citizens often get discounts at restaurants and other places that younger people do not get. Children also get discounts based upon their age.
So, when exactly is age discrimination legal and when is it illegal?

That’s a question we need to be asking our people in Congress, based on a report from Fox Business:
“As GOP lawmakers work toward creating a just-right “repeal and replace” plan for Obamacare, some legislation being introduced has touched a nerve for AARP and older Americans.”
“In a letter to the Chairman and Ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, AARP Senior Vice President Joyce Rogers lashed out against the recently introduced State Age Rating Flexibility Act of 2017, legislation that would allow insurers to charge older Americans significantly more for health insurance.”
“‘This legislation has a simple explanation — it would be an age tax — charging older Americans not yet eligible for Medicare a penalty of five times what others must pay for health insurance. The term ‘age rating’ is Washington-speak for overcharging older Americans by thousands of dollars for their health care,’” AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond told FOX Business.” 


“Under the ACA, insurers can charge its oldest enrollees up to three times as much as the youngest adult enrollees. The new proposal would change the age rating ratio to 5:1 or even higher. According to a new study from AARP’s Public Policy Institute conducted by the independent actuarial firm Milliman, under this proposal, on average, adults age 60 and older would see their insurance bills go up by $3,200 — making their average annual premium a whopping $17,900.” 


Notice that this bill is not being sponsored or introduced by Democrats, but by Republicans, which claim to be friends and protectors of senior citizens.
Many senior citizens live on fixed incomes and can ill afford such a drastic increase in any part of their budget, let alone healthcare. You can be certain that their pensions, retirement funds and Social Security won’t be increased enough to compensate for the higher cost of healthcare. If passed, it will surely lead to a number of senior citizens faced with the difficult decision of paying for the ‘age tax’ increase or eating or paying for a roof over their heads. The end result will mean more seniors dying sooner, or becoming destitute and a burden on others.

Please, Please Please, contact your Senator and Representative in Washington DC and insist that they vote against the age tax bill!