COMPANIES LIMIT HEALTH COVERAGE OF MANY RETIREES.

Reports that employers have unleashed a new wave of cutbacks in company-paid health benefits for retirees, with a growing number of companies saying that retirees can retain coverage only if they bear the full cost themselves. Reasons for the trend, including the fast-rising cost of health care; Impact of the sudden increase in premium on retirees; Benefits of the change including access to a group product that they could not duplicate on their own; Comments from early retirees, some of whom have had to return to work to pay for their insurance.