December 28, 2008

Dear Axis of Logic:

I worked for Verizon for almost 30 years and earned health insurance coverage in retirement in exchange for accepting lower wages. I have paper work that adds in the Health insurance as part of my benefits and shows my total income.

It should be illegal for employers to simply strip retirees of their
EARNED heath care benefits, and that is why the 111th Congress needs to pass the bipartisan Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act.

Verizon promised me health care when I retired and to pay for 76% of my health care.  The cost of the plans keep going up and the plans benefits keep going down. I had breast cancer and a mastectomy and I am worried if I could pay for another health problem.  There is much fear for the elderly and people with bad health.  I know that the CEO's and the politicians cannot understand our situations because they make millions as CEO's or have health care that is promised to the politicians.  Now the CEO's are worried about their millions and what if the government decided that the health care has to be paid for by the politicians? That would be interesting, maybe health care would improve.

It appears that neither of them can relate to our situations, but maybe they could feel some empathy.  Empathy.....I think empathy is just a word its meaning and emotion forgotten,  just like our health care promises are being forgotten.

I worked hard, I helped grow a company for almost 30 years. I never
thought that I would find myself in a position of worry. I worked long and hard for Verizon so that I could have a worry free retirement.  It's time, I can longer be silent and let Verizon take away what they promised me.

That is why we need the Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act passed and signed into law in 2009.

Sincerely,

Jean Ayles