Just last week the AARP filed a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had the authority to issue a regulation that allows employers to legally eliminate or reduce medical insurance coverage for retirees when they reach age 65 and become eligible for Medicare, while retaining benefits for retirees under age 65.

The regulation in question allowed employers to change health benefits packages based on age alone, an act that has been ruled discriminatory in the past.

As it's reported for Kaiser Daily Health Policy, the petition claims that the regulation in question offers nothing more than a "misguided approach" that threatens the medical insurance coverage of "approximately 10 million older Americans."

Furthermore, this would allow employers to back out of health care commitments made to long term employees, forcing them to fall back on Medicare supplemental insurance to fill in the gaps associated with Medicare.

As expensive as medical insurance coverage has become it's clear that employers, who often can't afford to cover their employees any more, are passing the fees on to those who can afford them the least.

For those seniors who do need more health insurance, it's a good idea to shop around online for the most competitive rates possible. Medicare can be very helpful for some things, but in many cases, it needs a little help to cover all the bases.