Insurance canceled for some Post-Dispatch retirees

Many St. Louis Post-Dispatch retirees were notified Monday that, starting Jan. 1, health insurance will be eliminated. Those younger than 65 would have to pay 100 percent of their premiums. Retirees 65 and older -- those with Medicare-- will be dropped from Lee plans. This comes a few weeks after a notice that premiums would be slightly higher in the new year.

St. Louis Newspaper Guild president Jeff Gordon says the union will fight the decision. "These people were assured when they retired that they would get the insurance for life," Gordon told KMOX in St. Louis. "For many, that was an inducement to take an early buyout or retire ahead of time."

I admit, I don't know much about health insurance for retirees at Lee papers. Retirement is far away; it's a case of young and clueless. A reader has asked about insurance for retirees at other papers -- anyone have an answer?