Health Care

Insuring Older Workers

Some analysts charge that employers -- especially smaller companies --may shy away from hiring older workers because their health insurance rates are higher than those for younger employees.

  • Older workers are more than twice as likely as younger ones to die of job-related causes.

  • Last year, 1,339 workers age 55 or older perished as a result of job-related accidents -- primarily those involving transportation.

  • Those over 55 are three times as likely to die from falls and twice as likely to perish in transportation or equipment-related accidents.

  • Smaller employers typically pay twice as much in health-care premiums for a worker age 55 to 64 as for a worker age 35 to 39.

Personnel experts say small firms may back away from hiring or keeping older workers because health-care costs are spread among fewer employees.

While older workers are viewed as having a stronger work ethic than younger ones, employers also see them as being less able to handle new technologies.

More than 15 million people 55 or older held jobs or were seeking employment last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including 3.8 million workers 65 or older.

Source: Stephanie Armour, "Insurance Hinders Hiring Elderly," USA Today, September 23, 1997.

Home | Support Us | All Issues | Social Security | Debate Central | Contact Us

Dallas Headquarters: 12770 Coit Rd., Suite 800 - Dallas, TX 75251-1339 - 972/386-6272 - Fax 972/386-0924
Washington Office: 601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 900 South Building, Washington, DC 20004 - 202/220-3082 - Fax 202/220-3096
© 2001 NCPA