This is not a story about the 1983 John Travolta movie or the Bee Gees soundtrack. But, in a way it is a sad song about Jacque, my friend since childhood. He is now a Baby Boomer who has been unemployed since losing his white collar, mid-management position nearly three years ago. Subsequently, when he was let go, Jacque lost his health and life insurance. Any conscientious Boomer knows that losing either or both of those benefits make you as vulnerable as a cat trying to cross a four lane highway. No wonder some Boomers commit suicide.
Jacque, a 61 year old divorcee, with two grown children says he does not have suicidal tendencies, although he has become a loner during the past year. We recently met for lunch one day after he called me and said that he needed to vent. He is unlike thousands of Boomers who quietly seethe in anger after losing their job. “They can call it what they want, being laid off, downsized or fired,” he said while resting his elbow on the table beside his plate and his chin on his fist. “The bottom line is that they are still kicking you out. Forget loyalty. Forget working hard and going to the office, promptly every day. You are damned if you do and damned it you don’t.” Jacque had enjoyed his job of the past 25 years, and planned to work until he decided it was time to leave.
As I sipped my green tea, he continued to let off steam, “You know I never lived an extravagant lifestyle. All I ever wanted in recent years was to live the rest of my life comfortably; keep my old Ford running and my dog, Duke, happy. I had a little bit of savings before I got axed. Then some age related medical problems started and …” He hesitates in mid-sentence and dejectedly shakes his head. I lower mine. I feel his pain.
Jacque tries to muster some humor, “I’ve nicknamed myself Double Jeopardy,” he chuckles. “Because I am too young to qualify for Medicare and too old for health insurance companies to insure me. And even if I could afford it, I could not get health insurance because of a preexisting condition and, as you know, age hinders job opportunities. And as far as getting another job, employers don’t give me a second thought. So, what am I supposed to do?” I nod my head in agreement, because I know he’s right. Excellent qualifications aside, many employers won’t even consider hiring you if you are over 50, and some have made it clear that they will only hire the recently jobless. Long term unemployed persons can forget it.
Jacque’s unemployment insurance ran out long ago and since then he has been siphoning his meager pension and 401(K), and hoping that it will carry him to the age when he is eligible to draw full social security.
“You see how it goes,” he said. “I followed the rules – got a good education, a good job, and planned to continue working until I was ready to retire. Unfortunately, someone other than me reshuffled the deck on my future.” Always an exercise enthusiast, he says he has only one objective – to stay healthy, because he cannot afford doctors and hospital costs. He no longer gets an annual physical nor does he go to his dentist, urologist, or primary care physician. He says that if a doctor’s treatment becomes necessary he may go to a hospital emergency room, but most likely he will just take some over-the-counter pain pills and hope they help, because even the ER demands a fee.
Jacque has no income and he says that the little savings and pension that he has must cover his food, housing and other necessities and those funds will not last indefinitely. Like most of us, he hopes to live a long time, and remain in good health. He is especially concerned about not becoming a burden to his children as he ages. He says, “When the day comes that they will have to bury me, I have told them to forget a funeral service and just cremate me.” He has always been a goal-oriented person and he forces a half-smile, before adding “My main goal now is to stay alive, because I can’t afford to die.”