One analysis found that lack of insurance among early retirees may lead to as many as 13,000 excess deaths each year.

[i] McWilliams JM, Zaslavsky AM, Meara E, and Ayanian JZ. “Health Insurance Coverage and Mortality Among the Near-Elderly.” Health Affairs, 23(4): 223-233. 2004.

[ii] National Center for Health Statistics. “Health, United States, 2008,” with chartbook. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Hyattsville, MD. 2009  Available at:  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus08.pdf#089