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Health insurance hike poses a problem

Federal retirees are asking the Government of Canada to do the right thing: honour the promises it made to us.

I recently read that the Treasury Board of Canada is looking at changes to federal retiree health insurance that would double health insurance costs for federal retirees – a big problem for seniors on fixed incomes.

If they proceed with the changes, some vulnerable seniors may be forced to make choices no one should have to make: between paying their health insurance premiums and paying for daily expenses, like food, medications, heat and rent.

But the most disturbing thing about this is that the Treasury Board is reportedly considering breaking the promises it made to its now-retired employees.

The Government of Canada made a promise to me: that I would have a retirement pension and health care insurance as compensation for my service.

I held up my part of this agreement during my career.

I served Canada with honour and dedication.

And now the government, after benefitting from the services I provided, is reportedly considering reneging on the promises it made to me and to tens of thousands of other federal retirees from the public service, Canadian Forces and the RCMP.

Federal retirees are asking the Government of Canada to do the right thing: honour the promises it made to us.

Shelve any plans that would be detrimental to the retirement and health care security of any Canadian, including the changes reportedly being considered for retired federal employees’ health insurance.

Lynn Jackson

Okanagan Falls