Speaking Out

Had A Sense of Security

We will be dealt another blow from the University of Pennsylvania with the changes that are proposed to the health care and prescription plans. When I was employed by the University, one of the benefits quoted to me was that at retirement my wife and I would enjoy free medical and prescription coverage. We had a sense of security knowing that even though our pensions would be limited, we would always have health care coverage. That changed when I retired and it is no longer free for later retirees such as myself, and the coverage is costing us more each year. Now, you are planning to make us pay a larger percentage when we use our health care plans.

There must be other ways and means that you can employ that will help with the costs other than charging retirees, who are on fixed incomes, more and more every year. We are not able to work and earn more money to cover these charges so we will probably do without regular check-ups and some medicines [in order] to keep our costs down. That will in the end, cost Penn health plans more money because we will not stay as healthy. We will be admitted to hospitals for costlier treatments that could have been avoided with monitored check-ups and regular medicinal therapies.

Please reconsider your proposed plans.

—George T. Wallace, Retired Building Operation Manager