Some retired state employees are weighing whether they can afford both groceries and medication as rising costs strain the pensions and health benefits they earned during their working years.
“One thing that I hear from other retirees is paying for medication or paying to eat,” said Erlinda Ochoa, treasurer of California State Retirees Chapter 6. “Which one do you do?”
That concern was among the issues raised Oct. 8 at the San Bernardino Elks Lodge, where chapter members met with State Treasurer Fiona Ma to discuss retirement security, health care and affordability. Attendees also questioned the community consequences of pension investments and challenged claims about California’s proposed billionaire tax…