SETTING THE RETIREMENT AGE GIVEN THE HEALTH STATUS OF SENIOR PEOPLE

Abstract

The article analyzes the conceptual background for raising the pension age in Lithuania. It argues that most often the inevitability for a pension system reform is justified by political and economic causes, i.e. the necessity to balance the state budget with the number of senior people increasing. The aim of article is to justify the necessity of raising the pension age on the basis of the change in the health status of senior people. The material and methods: comparative analysis of the data obtained from the European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit. The results revealed, that in the most of European countries, including Lithuania, the HLY (Healthy Life Years) indicator is increasing, as well as life expectancy at birth. The standardized death rate per 100, 000 population is decreasing, and the segment of the population, who assess their health to be very good or good is increasing. The average length of stay of hospitalized patients is becoming shorter, and the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population is decreasing. The conclusion follows that the improvement of senior people’s health provides a good basis for the raising of the pension age in Lithuania. Moreover, the raising of the pension age is more acceptable for the society when it is based on the health status, but not on the economic reasons.