Health Care for Retirees – November 2001

Increasing health care costs for retirees challenge all segments of our society. With more than 12 million residents, Pennsylvania has the second oldest population in the nation: 15.6% of our residents are 65 or older, and 9.5% are ages 55-64. According to the Census Bureau, almost 30% of the state’s population is currently between the ages of 35-54, and will be retiring or nearing retirement age within the next 20 years. Pennsylvania will be hit hard by the health care needs of its aging population, and more health care costs seemingly will be shifted onto more retirees – and onto active workers.