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I may have to retire early to get my health insurance benefits. If I don't retire next year, I will have to work 8 more years to get any type of benefits; and I don't think physically or mentally I can make it 8 more years. So if I have retire early to get health benefits, I will still have to find other employment for an income, as my pension will not even be enough to live on. I have always worked in an office environment, but I'm thinking about something totally different. But 60 years old is a hard age to start over doing something new. I've thought about medical transcribing or something like that, but I just don't know where to start. I can't believe this is happening. You plan all of your life to do things like you should and then the bottom drops out. I'm just sick of worrying about this and don't know where to look for other employment. I can't think about being a WalMart greeter, but I may have to take whatever I can. Any suggestions anyone? Thanks.
I regret that I have no advice to offer about finding work, but I am really curious about your situation because I don't understand how you can have health benefits by retiring now, but if you work two or three more years you don't get them? That seems most bizarre. What sort of a job do you have, I mean with what sort of employer? (If you don't care to state, I understand; we all give as much or as little information about ourselves as we are comfortable with.)
Your post indicates that you are 60 or will be 60 next year. Why would you have to work 8 more years to get health benefits ? Something is missing here.
I've thought about medical transcribing or something like that, but I just don't know where to start.
I don't know where for you to start, but DON'T start with transcription. Due to Obamacare and the electronic age everything is going paperless and more physicians are using voice dictation - the only transcriptionists that are needed are to clean up errors on the voice dictation program. Bad, bad mistake - this coming from someone with 19 years in transcription who is now unemployed.
Coding - go into medical coding if you simply have to change - and be very, very good at what you do. I wish I had cross-trained 20 years ago, I'd still have a job.
As far as where to start, don't do online or a paper-hanging college. Many hospitals have allied health schools. You'll get your best training and a leg up on positions that open in a hospital there - and go hospital for the first year.
I'll be honest with you - if I had to start over again and do all that I'd run fast and hard. There's more to it than there appears. I'm 55 - no way would I start that particular job path at this age.
I don't know where for you to start, but DON'T start with transcription. Due to Obamacare and the electronic age everything is going paperless and more physicians are using voice dictation - the only transcriptionists that are needed are to clean up errors on the voice dictation program. Bad, bad mistake - this coming from someone with 19 years in transcription who is now unemployed.
I agree. I'm also 55, a medical transcriptionist at a teaching hospital and it's the same situation here. They're not hiring any more transcriptionists and we basically just clean up errors from voice dictation. It's just a matter of time before we are transferred to other clerical positions within the hospital. In the meantime, I'm thinking of getting training for medical coding.
Last edited by Sam I Am; 09-02-2012 at 07:09 AM..
Reason: corrected quote tags
Coding - go into medical coding if you simply have to change - and be very, very good at what you do. I wish I had cross-trained 20 years ago, I'd still have a job.
As far as where to start, don't do online or a paper-hanging college. Many hospitals have allied health schools. You'll get your best training and a leg up on positions that open in a hospital there - and go hospital for the first year.
I'll be honest with you - if I had to start over again and do all that I'd run fast and hard. There's more to it than there appears. I'm 55 - no way would I start that particular job path at this age.
Quoting myself is odd - but for the OP, now you have two in a matter of hours saying coding is the way to go if you're going medical/clerical. But still do avoid the paper hangers - I would suggest trying to land a job as a ward clerk or something in a hospital affiliated with your state - state/fed jobs offer that security and benefits and a way to be vested in a relatively short time (or at least around here that's the case). Of course, you could draw the short end of the stick and end up working midnights that way too.
Have you thought about histo or med tech? Not going to pay a lot, but it IS a job.
I'd never encourage someone to stay at a job that will rob them of their health, but think long and hard before you walk away. The job market is tough and "no age discrimination" is a pitiful joke.
I can comment about why the OP might well have to work eight more years. Many employers especially public sector employers as part of benefit reforms are upping the needed number of years served to qualify for benefits. Or to qualify for a higher percentage of paid benefits. If you have the full required number of years in you may be ok. But they could raise the age to qualify for health benefits at the full employer contribution rate from 30-35 years. In most cases the are upping the age requirement to qualify for benefits etc and making it effective by a certain calendar date. That gives you the choice to retire by that date or face a change in health benefits. It especially hits folks who took their job in their 40's etc etc. Formerly you may have qualified for benefits after 15/20 years and that has been upped to 20/25/30 years etc. Health care benenfits don't usually have the same legal protections that pensions are suppose to have. I know a number of folks who had to make similiar decisions and there is nothing to say that it won't happen to a lot more. I believe I have said it here and will say it again. If you work for a public sector employer plan on working for 35 years even if it appears that current full benefits kick in at 30. Very few reform efforts call for more than 35 years of service or an age that matches your SS age. I said efforts not implemented reforms. This is all to be played out. In most cases health care benefits now being offered for those in retirement are subject to change and I know folks who have had that happen.
I can comment about why the OP might well have to work eight more years. Many employers especially public sector employers as part of benefit reforms are upping the needed number of years served to qualify for benefits. Or to qualify for a higher percentage of paid benefits. If you have the full required number of years in you may be ok. But they could raise the age to qualify for health benefits at the full employer contribution rate from 30-35 years. In most cases the are upping the age requirement to qualify for benefits etc and making it effective by a certain calendar date. That gives you the choice to retire by that date or face a change in health benefits. It especially hits folks who took their job in their 40's etc etc. Formerly you may have qualified for benefits after 15/20 years and that has been upped to 20/25/30 years etc. Health care benenfits don't usually have the same legal protections that pensions are suppose to have. I know a number of folks who had to make similiar decisions and there is nothing to say that it won't happen to a lot more. I believe I have said it here and will say it again. If you work for a public sector employer plan on working for 35 years even if it appears that current full benefits kick in at 30. Very few reform efforts call for more than 35 years of service or an age that matches your SS age. I said efforts not implemented reforms. This is all to be played out. In most cases health care benefits now being offered for those in retirement are subject to change and I know folks who have had that happen.
Good point but that can also butt-up against the "promises" at point of hire. I know that in the state my wife and I retired from, at the time we were hired, we would be fully vested for benefits after 10 years of service. About 10 years ago that changed to 50% vesting after 10 years and full vesting at 20. However, those of us who began earlier were still eligible for what we originally signed-on for. In the end it all comes down to contractual issues. With the current fervor regarding public pensions the courts are going to be kept busy for a long time.
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