How many here fall into the category of the age range of 54 - 64?

[hamsterjill]

I fall into that category and I would like to know other DU'ers who fall into this age bracket. My understanding is that this age bracket will be the one most affected by the Republican agenda on health care.

I admit to being very, very concerned about the future.

Could we get our own group on DU so that we can actively advocate, organize, inform one another, etc.?

[SoCalNative]

1. Count me in

just joined the 54 group

[Turbineguy]

2. My Wife does.

According to AARP math her premium will go from $656 to $1100 per month. We shall see.

I expect consumer spending to be cautious until the fallout from this settles.

[dhill926]

3. I'm in...self employed...

but on wife's insurance from work. Keeping a very close eye on things, altho hopefully the Senate will kill this.

[progressoid]

37. Same here but Wife just lost her job so....

now what

[dhill926]

49. man, I'm sorry to hear that...

best wishes, and let's hope the Senate doesn't pass it...

[MuseRider]

4. 63 here.

God what a day. Worried. My husband is on Medicare. I was putting a lot of stuff off until Medicare. Hmmm, was not the best plan after all.

[Freethinker65]

5. Husband is 59, I am 52 unemployed with pre-existing condition

[tallahasseedem]

6. I'm not, but I have a pre-existing condition...

that lands me on the chart that keeps getting posted. My premiums could very well go up over $8000. I'm sick to my stomach.

[taught_me_patience]

7. That demographic broke heavily to Trump

?w=1000&h=990

and will be the ones to suffer the most from this. This is what the majority of your demographic preferred.

[hamsterjill]

9. Well no one here in that age category voted for Trump, so why are you bringing this up?

We are no more responsible for how others in OUR age category vote than you would be in yours.

Are we supposed to just die quietly because some in our age group were dumbasses and voted for Trump?

[Honeycombe8]

58. I THINK he's pointing out that those voters will be angry, and the Repubs rely on their votes.

But looking at the charts, it looks like the Repubs get 53%...it's close to half and half, really.

[JNelson6563]

91. Yes, and it sickens me.

I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. We like a million others fled the city after the riots in the late 60s. Racism was rife, of course. Fast forward to many years later and I'm married, raising a family. I remember (vaguely) the horror of race riots and am aware the conditions that kicked them off. I teach my kids about racism and how wrong it is.

Later I come across a class reunion site where former classmates were chatting. Was so shocked to find many, many of them were such racists! I just kept thinking what happened to you all? I mean I was certain we, who witnessed such horrors related to racism, would be smarter than our parents and see how stupid it all was.

No.

I still am rather shocked about it.

[phylny]

8. 59 tomorrow, husband is 62.

We have coverage from his corporate job (well, for now), but I'm still worried about everyone else.

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. We share a birthday. I turn 60 tomorrow. And Happy Cinco De Mayo! I'm covered thru my....

employer, but I want someone to explain how this impacts me & others in my age group.

[Dustlawyer]

60. Happy birthday to you both!

Senate has not passed it and I hope never does!

I am in this age group and have several things that will be pre-existing. I also have a grandson with Downs Syndrome and an 80 year old mother who is scared out of her mind right now! She has been calling representatives all day and vows to finally learn to use the computer. For her that means she is extremely serious!

[Tarheel_Dem]

75. Approaching retirement age, with a history of colon cancer, is no little thing for me. If the Senate

has dropped the 60 vote threshold, then I'm in fear that everything we've come to know and rely on will be no more. Paul Ryan has been determined to go after Social Security and Medicare, and my biggest fear is that they'll jam even more stuff through before the midterms to fend off even more rightwing primary challenges.

[Dustlawyer]

96. Bernie said tonight on Anderson Cooper that the Republicans are going after

SS by using the ballooning deficit created by this bill and their coming tax reform, if they were to pass to say they have to cut SS. He also said this health care bill has no chance in the Senate. I hope like Hell he is right!

[enid602]

82. Chumpcare

It means you'll probably have to work until you're 65, just to take advantage of the insurance. I'm 63, and I'm the same boat. employer pays 100%. Obamacare said insurers can't charge the 50 to 64's more than two times what they charge the young and healthy. Under chumpcare, they can charge 5 times. Also, subsidies will end.

[Tarheel_Dem]

85. So, the options are to hope you're lucky enough to stay healthy, or just die & die quickly.

[enid602]

87. Yes

Or pay out the ass.

[Cha]

111. Happy 6-0 Birthday, Tarheel!

[Tarheel_Dem]

112. Thank you my Dear Cha!

[Cha]

113. ..

[Turn CO Blue]

10. Hubby is 55, I will be 52 in 4 mos.We pay $19K in premiums now, expect it will go over $35K

we both have pre-existing conditions.

[benld74]

11. We both do

[nolabear]

12. I'm in. Plus my son has a pre-existing condition.

This had BETTER die.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. Me

I turn 60 later this year.

[tech3149]

14. I'm very much there

I'm also very concerned although not for myself. I've virtually never been on the receiving end of the health care professionals though I closely supported them my entire working life.

[marlakay]

16. I am 60 hubby 67

I have insurance through his old job if not for that I would be screwed, i had back operation and early menopause so I am sure pre existing.

Off and on the past few years if we have a bad fight I think divorce would literally kill me if anything happened.

[SamKnause]

17. 64, next month.

[Ms. Toad]

18. 60 - but I plan to work until 72, so this likely won't impact me.

(The premiums where I work are income-based, not age-based).

It will, however, impact my daughter who will blow through any lifetime caps proposed in the year she needs a liver transplant.

[TygrBright]

69. Check again... Employer-provided plans are also toasted.

As in, if the state in which the plan is being offered chooses to "opt out" of keeping people alive, the insurers offering plans through employers can take advantage of stuff like adding premium penalties for asthmatics, cancer survivors, women, and other pre-existing conditions. So if your employer can't afford to pay the extra, and you can't afford to pay the extra, how long will your employer-based plan last?

Fairly sure my employer won't subsidize the extra $4K per year to cover me with my history of asthma (though I haven't had an attack in years.)

So there goes mine, anyway.

bitterly,
Bright

[Ms. Toad]

78. Yes - but, but it is not likely to change where I work.

I work at a fairly large state university - with an insured pool large enough it pays an insurance provider to administer a self-funded plan (as opposed to paying premiums). There may be minor variations (like this year the coinsurance went from 10/20 to 15/25), but they are not likely to be significant changes.

I wasn't making a general statement - my daughter's coverage through her employer may well be impacted. (Currently it is better than mine, but I don't know how much of that is company philosophy v. mandate.)

[redstatebluegirl]

19. Count me in I'm terrified.

[bdjhawk]

20. 61

61 with a pre-existing condition. I'm terrified, too. As I watch them gloat, I keep wondering how these fine (faux) "christians" can do this. But greed for money and power knows no bounds, but, you know, the Bible tells them to be greedy, right?

[brooklynite]

21. I'm not affected at all...

...I have employee sponsored health-care, and I retain it after I retire.

[LanternWaste]

27. How absolutely relevant to the point of the OP.

How absolutely relevant to the point of the OP.

[brooklynite]

107. I fall into the age group requested by the OP, so entirely relevant

[Skittles]

50. LOL

you are foolish if you think repuke rules will not fuck you

https://www.wsj.com/articles/little-noted-provision-of-gop-health-bill-could-alter-employer-plans-1493890203

[retrowire]

61. Damn brooklynite

Nice "I got mine" post you wrote there!

[WinkyDink]

89. You THINK you retain it. ALL bets are off, including promised ones, if this becomes law.

[grantcart]

104. Me with diabetes

and Menierre's.

Didn't have health insurance for a decade.

I will have about a one year gap to Medicaid.

[iamateacher]

22. I am 61, we have Massachusetts Romneycare

Don't know what will happen....

[Staph]

23. I'm 63 and single.

And I do consulting work, part-time.

Last year, my health insurance was about $750 a month. This year it's $1070. Next year, who knows? I'm a cancer survivor, so I'm terrified at what this monstrosity of a healthcare bill will do to me! In the previous version of Trumpcare, I read that my insurance would go up to $21,000 to $25,000 a year.

[tech3149]

114. Same age and same situation

but I quit working for a wage at 49. Your current insurance is more than half of my SS disbursement. I don't have any serious need for healthcare but anything close to acceptable coverage when I checked would have doubled my monthly expenses not to mention out of pocket.

We are the lucky ones. You can pay for insurance that you may or may not need and I have not needed it for pretty much all of my adult life.

Let's do what we can to fight for those who aren't as lucky as you and I.

[TheBlackAdder]

24. Me too. Don't worry, in 10 years, we'll be the elders who vote at 90% levels. The R's won't exist.

.


They will piss off the rank-in-file elders who will never allow them to take seat in office again.


.

[GoCubsGo]

25. I am.

I'm already uninsured, because I don't qualify for Medicaid in my shithole state, and I can't afford the minimum $850/mo. for premiums. On election night, I went from hoping that we'd be seeing Medicare opened up to people 50 and over to realizing I'll probably never be able to afford to see a doctor again in my life. I am sure I will likely die 20 years sooner than I would have had I not gotten laid off at an age where nobody wants to hire me.

[mcar]

26. Here

Pre-existing condition too. As does my husband.

He can retire in two years at 62 but now...if we can't get affordable health insurance, he'll have to keep working with two bad hips.

[ghostsinthemachine]

28. 61. Cancer patient.

Middle of treatment for esophageal cancer. Stage III. Next week an esophagectomy.

So glad I am poor and on MediCal right now.

[mainer]

29. Yo.

I just have to stay healthy for two more years.

[Skittles]

53. repukes will get to work on medicare and social security soon

[PA Democrat]

30. I am in my late 50s and self-employed

I too am really concerned.

[Ligyron]

31. 63 but get health care in the VA

I really feel for my fellow citizens, especially ones with pre-existing conditions. Hell, who doesn't have pre existing at our age?

[Elwood P Dowd]

32. Wish I were still in that younger crowd.

Turning 70 soon and can use either Medicare or the VA. Who knows what the future holds for those two. Obama patched holes as best he could under the almost impossible conditions he faced, but this current bunch wants to blow the fucking dam to hell and drown us all.

[rustysgurl]

33. 60 and husband 67

We both have pre-existing conditions and I am shared sh*tless.

[Itchinjim]

34. 57 with more than one preexisting condition

Id say im scared shittless but that would probably be considered another preexisting condition.

[Still Sensible]

35. I am 62

and hoping the Senate drops this shit!

[The empressof all]

36. We are as well and not yet eligible for Medicare.

If this travesty moves forward and goes into effect We will sell everything and move to Panama or Ecuador if they will still have us. We both have pre-existing conditions and will probably not be eligible for risk pool dollars. I am hoping our wonderful Jay Inslee will be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat for our state. Although our rates have gone up I am still paying less on the exchange than I did prior to Obamacare. It's still too much and the coverage is certainly not the greatest. But I can pay the bills and sleep at night knowing I will not lose my home due to an illness. That won't be the case under this Trump Care fiasco... This is just making me sick.....

[jojog]

38. 61 with pre-ex conditions

[cry baby]

39. Me

[Freddie]

40. I'm 60, hubby 59

We both have "conditions", his a lot worse than mine. Covered by my work but could get more expensive coverage at his work if needed. Terrified by all this. Leave it to the GOP to fuck over the age group that voted for them. Maybe more people our age will see the light. Nah, they're still too worried about guns and fetuses.

[Freddie]

41. We should start our own group

Like the Younger Old Farts.

[hamsterjill]

42. Exactly. That's what I was thinking.

There is safety in numbers, etc. There is knowledge in being part of a group with a common purpose. We are going to need to be able to share information, ideas, resources, etc.

[Honeycombe8]

59. I'm in, if a group is formed. nt

[Sedona]

43. Checking in from Tucker , Ga

Plus one other in my household . Both with pre-existing conditions.

[BigDemVoter]

44. Not quite. . . .

but only by a few months!

[woodsprite]

45. Me! According to the Repub rules, I'm screwed

Diabetes, borderline HBP, c-section, and a cancer survivor.

[treestar]

46. Yep.

This would not have bothered me in my 20s or 30s. Or even 40s. Didn't have high blood pressure then.

[LeftInTX]

47. Me and my husband

[Blanks]

48. I'm 56...

But I'll be shocked if this goes anywhere in the senate.

It's a distraction from the Trump Russia scandal.

Watch Al Franken (in the video) point out in the senate how Don Jr. said they were getting a lot of money from the Russians and the purchase by a Russian the Florida property.

It's just another attempt to control the news cycle. I believe Sally Yates is testifying soon, they really don't want the press to be talking about that all day.

[kacekwl]

51. I'm 60 my wife 62

She is on disability and we have had insurance thru the ACA for the last 3 years after going 10 -14 years without. Tomorrow is payday for me and I as usual have $2.35 in my checking account. Any increase or change will be very bad , very bad. Single payer please.

[Wounded Bear]

52. Seniors Group...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1183

Yes, I'm 64 and deeply concerned. Currently, I have VA care, but I'm sure they're coming for that next.

[Honeycombe8]

54. Me. What have you heard? nt

[Island Blue]

55. I will turn 54 in August

so I guess I'm probably considered to be in that age group.

[avebury]

56. I am. NT

[mopinko]

57. 62, recently divorced, cobra'd till 64

i have a 9 month gap till medicare. expect my ins to stay pretty intact, as i am in a big group, tho sure i will have premiums jacked.

just glad the aca was there when i decided to end my 30 year marriage. not sure i would have made that choice otherwise.

i am sure i will pay out the wazoo when i have to cover that 9 months. no way i can go naked.

[KatyaR]

62. Turning 60 next month (godhelpme).

I'll probably be working until I'm dead. Unless I lose my job and can't find another one because I'm so damned old (which scares me to death)....

[yankeepants]

63. I'm 59. I'm in

[Mr.Bill]

64. I will turn 65 in about 15 months.

But even then I worry that Medicare won't even be there then. At least not in it's present form. My wife is on Medicare now and has a long list of pre-existing conditions and takes meds that would cost thousands of dollars a month. Fortunately, I am in relatively good health, but of course that could change overnight at my age.

[bluecollar2]

65. me...n/t

[Native]

66. That's my bracket, unfortunately

[benpollard]

67. I'm in that group

There's already is a boomer group, but it's not very active

[il_lilac]

68. 60 year old cancer survivor...

don't expect to survive another occurrence if this health bill passes tho.

[TygrBright]

71. Nonsense, of course you will!

You, like my esposo, (also a survivor) will be perfectly free to continue getting coverage.

As long as you can come up with the $140K in premium increases, of course.

But that shouldn't be a problem for most of us, right?

bitterly,
Bright

[Dem2theMax]

70. I'm 60. I have no retirement funds, due to health issues.

I am on disability. If I have no health care coverage, I can't afford to see a doctor. If I can't afford to see a doctor,
I won't be kept on disability. If I can't get my medications, within a year or two I'll either be using
a walker, or will be in a wheelchair. In other words, I am screwed.

I was born with pre-existing conditions. It just took the doctors years to figure it out.

I spent the past hour looking over what is in the bank, and what I can get by on if I get rid of Internet, T.V., and the cell phone. Those are the only 'extras' in my life. I might make it a year before I would have to move out of my home, rent it out, and go live with a friend who has offered up a room. In that regard, I am luckier than a lot of people will be in this situation. I could also live out of my car if need be. I had a bad feeling two years ago, and I started making double payments. I own the car as of two months ago.

I also just made every doctor and dental appointment I could think of, so I can get everything taken care of that is possible while I still have health insurance. I am hoping that my health insurance will be good through the end of the year. Does anyone know when the horrors, (no health care, because that IS what it IS,) will actually take place?

Boy, I thought I had a bad night's sleep last night. Tonight I'm going to have nightmares.

[Texin]

72. I'm turning 63 in a few months.

I'd hoped fervently that this wouldn't come to pass and now I'm worried and, honestly, despondent. I've had private insurance policy through BCBS since about 2005 (following leaving my job and enrolling in COBRA). When that policy was first issued, there was a six-month waiting period because I'm an asthmatic and have hypertension. Every fucking year the rates have gone up steeper and steeper and my husband and I both have been just waiting it out until I'm Medicare eligible. I don't know what will happen now. I expect I'll face cancelation of that policy or the rates will be so high I don't know whether we'll be able to afford to pay them. My hypertension drugs are generic and don't cost that terribly much, but the drugs that control my asthma are another matter. I take two, and the Flovent is terribly, terribly expensive - or, rather, it would be if I wasn't just paying a fraction (through the existing insurance) of what it would cost otherwise. Without these medications (all of them including the hypertensive drugs) I expect I wouldn't live very long.

Now I'm worried that they're going to go after Medicare. I'll believe they'll do it. What the fuck else do they have to lose, really? They've demonstrated that they couldn't wait to touch that third rail and throw millions and millions of folks off their healthcare and endangering policies of those insured through their employers. Who would be fool enough to believe that these hit men for the Russian mob wouldn't go after the last social safety net too? I think they will and it will all be in the name of their godforsaken, fucking billionaire boys club tax cuts.

Fuck these guys. God damn them to the hell they so richly deserve. Burn there shitheads. That's what god purportedly is supposed to do to murderers and these cretins have just accomplished murder as sure as the day is long.

[Doreen]

73. I will be 50 in November but I am a walking talking

pre-existing condition. In other words I have multiple disabilities and that puts me in the same place as the elderly in those age brackets. My disabilities are also not obvious just looking at me and people tend to be much more critical thinking we are just cheating the system. You should hear people say things to me about how I should get my fat lazy ass to work. I am scared to death for myself and millions of other people.

[Raster]

74. 60-yr old, type 2 diabetic...

...this should get interesting.

[kimbutgar]

76. 61 this year

I am on my hubby's company paid healthplan but my best friend my age who is single had a pre existing condition and was without healthcare and couldn't afford healthcare until ACA. I am so scared for her. The rethugs are so cruel. And don't get me started if any of those rethugs who voted for this abomination say they are Christians. They are blasphemous cretins.

[guillaumeb]

77. We are 65 and 62.

And what percentage of our peers voted for Trump feeling that, as Medicare recipients, they personally would be exempt?

[chia]

79. I'm 56

Count me in, please.

[Different Drummer]

80. I'm in that range (double nickels). n/t

[saidsimplesimon]

81. good idea jill

Anyone aware of any action planned by AARP? They have a large membership in your age group(I am beyond counting).

I will be calling myself and encourage others to let their Senators know what they think about this abomination of a bill.

[stopbush]

83. 62 here.

Pre-existing conditions include afib, psoriasis and borderline Type 2 diabetes. All currently handed very efficiently thru meds.

My wife is 62 and is a cancer survivor of 13 years.

Yeah, we're nervous as shit.

[anneboleyn]

84. We are in our forties and we have pre-existing conditions. There are so many things that count as

pre-existing conditions that I think there are a lot of people who are in for rude awakenings as far as this is concerned.

[csziggy]

86. I do - for two more months

But I support a group for that age bracket - or any age bracket that wants their own space here.

[Kittycow]

88. 64.5 here

I'm on SSDI and Medicare with several preexisting conditions. I'm waiting for the axe to fall since election night.

I'm also wondering if my BC/BS Medigap premiums will go up. I'm in Oregon.

[blueinredohio]

90. My husband is 66

I will be 60 this month. I hope it doesn't pass the senate but I have decided if I had to borrow money on my house to get medical care Iwill just have to die b/c I cant be homeless and be sick too.

[marked50]

92. I am absolutely amazed with the responses to this OP.

Not in the details. Not in the heartbreaking concerns of almost everyone of them.

What is amazing is the amount and intensity of the concerns over something as fundamental as peoples health.

This should not be in our society. If this is what consumes us now, what are we missing for our future?

I suppose I just answered that question with thoughts of things like climate change.

Why are we sacrificing our future on something that should be so basic to our existence- to help others when they need it?

This is just sad.

[hamsterjill]

93. Great post and I fully agree.

Our age group should happily be anticipating retirement and actively doing what we can to stay healthy but having full assurance that healthcare is there for us should it be needed.

That (healthcare) should not be an added stress for ANY American no matter the age bracket. I created this discussion for the particular age bracket because the Republican agenda leaves us in a more precarious position than most. But make no mistake. I want everyone covered.

[KTM]

94. So many questions answered here.

Now we see the REAL split in the party, and at DU.

[VOX]

95. My wife does...

Fortunately, for now, we have my employer-paid healthcare, which covers us both. But who's to say where things will be next year?

[denbot]

97. Dead center at 59.

Fortunately my wife is federal law enforcement, and I'm a verteran with a campaign ribbon so we're fairly well covered so far.

[LoveMyCali]

98. I'm 55 and the company where I work was recently sold

so I'm already confused about what my insurance benefits really are, this doesn't help matters.

[Mendocino]

99. 59

Retired from federal government.

[DFW]

100. I used to until about 7 weeks ago.

My wife has 7 weeks to go before she no longer qualifies, but she is not an American citizen, so she's not affected by this.

[Mountain Mule]

101. Can those of us on Medicaid join?

I am 65 and on SSDI. Since my income is so low, I'm on Medicaid and for all I know, my healthcare may vanish under Ryan and 45. Unbelievable!

[Liberty Belle]

102. I am 60 and premiums have gone up both through Obamacare and private plans into the stratosphere

for us the last several years. We are over the level to get subsidies, but live in the highest cost housing marketing, highest cost utility bills in the nation, and among the highest water costs. Our premiums combined are as much as our mortgage, just for two of us. All that, and none of the plans cover what I need most, chiropractic and massage therapy for chronic pain from car accident injuries, and major dental work.

I am hoping California enacts healthcare for all legislation moving forward that would cover all of the above free with zero deductibles, as Europe does, but they'r still hashing out how to pay for it.

I truly feel for those in red states who may not even be able to get coverage for pre-existing conditions. AT our age, everyone has some. Before Obamacare, i was denied coverage due to pre-existing skin cancer (basal cell carcimoma) and neck/back issues going back years.

[lapfog_1]

103. Right in the middle.

with heart defects at birth... so I get tired easy, which means diabetes now.

My heart was very similar to Jimmy Kimmel's son. Hole in my heart, stuck valve.

Only that long ago there was no open heart surgery on babies.

So my health care will be totally un affordable unless I win the lotto for like $20M

[fleabiscuit]

105. Two here. nt

[samplegirl]

106. Me!

[Lyricalinklines]

108. Yes, I am also in the age range.

[area51]

109. Me. n/t

[defacto7]

110. I also reside within the parameters required for inclusion.

Honestly, I have no idea how this will affect my corporate BCBS coverage. The "product" isn't a done deal yet but with state opt outs... who knows. Something this massive will have to affect all of us in one way ot another.