Big business was assured that the Government would pick up its share of insurance for early retirees.

The county scaled back its benefits for the early retirees.

Worse, it has become apparent that when early retirees leave, they often take new jobs at other companies.

But those considerations are little comfort to some early retirees.

So early retirees who lost the typical 60 percent subsidy would face added costs of more than $500 a month.

He would also allow some early retirees to buy into their former employers' health plans.

Many of these early retirees have not voluntarily put themselves in this position.

Beginning in 1998, the Government would pay 80 percent of the premiums for all but the most affluent early retirees.

He added that the numbers did not include the many early retirees or people leaving the Island.

Studies show that a large proportion of early retirees leave the work force for health reasons.