We are all, inexorably, marching toward old age. By 2030, 72 million Americans will be age 65 or older. The good news is longevity has been improving, and people are remaining healthy and vibrant at older ages.

 The bad news is cultural perceptions of ‘old’ people have not kept pace. A 2016 analysis by the World Health Organization found ageism was abundant and many people were completely unaware of their biases toward older people. 

Psychology Today warned, “The especially slippery part about ageism is that we can witness it in action time and again throughout society, often without anything triggering our internal antennae that tells us ‘Hey, something is deeply amiss here.’”

Ageism and elder abuse

One of the ugly things hiding beneath the rock of ageism is elder abuse, including financial exploitation. During 2017, the Department of Health and Human Resources reported: 

Would you like to retire before age 65? Many of us have the dream of retiring early. If you are seriously considering this or find yourself without a job before age 65 then you need to know what your options for health insurance are.

Why is 65 an important age? At 65 you are eligible for Medicare. For most people the cost of Medicare is much less than the cost of individual or even employer sponsored health insurance. What are your health insurance options until you turn 65?