Health coverage for early retirees in Ga. Is $5 billion enough?

Under the "Affordable Care Act" Georgians who retired early and do not qualify for Medicare or employer health coverage (an estimated 145,000 people) have had access to a $5 billion temporary early retiree reinsurance program. The subsidy applies to claims of between $15,000 and $90,000.

The program will reimburse employers and other plan sponsors for part of the costs incurred in providing group health benefits to early retirees.

An early retiree is an individual 55 and older who is neither an active employee nor eligible for Medicare.

There is some concern that the funds will run out before the anticipated deadline of 2014, and it is a temporary provision.