Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol

Uncle Sam will pony up millions to private businesses, state and county offices that need funds for retirement benefits.

The Superior Telegram sums it up best in a recent story:

Fifty-three public and private employers in Wisconsin are in line for federal money to help pay for early retirement benefits. The intent is to preserve eroding retiree health coverage until people are eligible for Medicare, or can use the new health exchange marketplace starting in 2014.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that the percentage of large firms providing workers with retiree health coverage has dropped from 66-percent in 1988 to 29-percent last year.

To shore up coverage, the feds are providing funds to private business, along with state and local governments.