People are generally living longer, healthier lives.

But in the U.S., it’s the higher income earners that are skewing the debate about whether the government should increase the retirement age, reports The Washington Post.

The rich are living about 4.5 years longer than the poor (as of 2000). Part of this is the result of having access to better medical care and health education. Meanwhile, it’s the poor that will suffer most if the age at which they receive benefits continues to increase.

Read more.

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