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widow lives tightly on $25,000 a year. Her condominium fees eat up most of her income. There is little cash left over each month after she pays for food. her car. insurance. lntemet service and her phone. She receives no income supplement. “Save. save. save. Put money away,” said Mary, who asked not to be identified. She is embar- rassed by her dire financial straits. “Save from the time you're 20. I don't care if it's $10 a week. It adds up. It makes all the difference in the world." She and her husband held down “decent” jobs and raised five childxen together. That put a ceiling on job and income opportunities. she said. and directly affected their ability to prepare for their retirement financially. Both worked until they were 70. Mary is in good health. She receives two small pensions from her job and her late husband's Without them. she does not know how she would survive. Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security (OAS) adds up to only $1.300 a month. “It never crossed my mind." she said of her retirement. “You know it's coming. but it's a long way off. Then. all of a sudden. it's there." Mary’s retirement experience is a cautionary tale for Baby Boom- ers. the oldest of which are just turning 65. and for Generation Xers. those born starting in the mid-19605 on the heels of the boomers Her financial distress in retire- ment is an all-too-common reality for many of Ontario's 1.9 million residents 65 and older. Willa health crisis tamishyour golden years? But neitfier had a university BY IENNIFER BOWMAN. IESSICA CUNHA AND TAMARA SHEPHARD Metroland Staff ary would not call them her golden years. At 75. the Ottawa Many Ontarians simply cannot afford to retire. Consumer costs. including health care and housing. compel them to work for wages and health benefits No one knows better how a health crisis can wreak havoc on retirement plans than Brampton's Anne Mitchell. 67. In the next 20 years. Ontario’s population of seniors is expected to double. Ms Mitchell is gearing up for a second battle with cancer. Except. this time. she is scram; bling to come up with $52,000 for chemomemmreatment not cov- ered by OHlP. "It will wipe out all of our sav- ings.” Ms Mitchell said. "This is a big financial burden. It will wipe out our whole retirement." Ms Mitchell. a former office manager for a construction com- pany. and her husband. John. 68. a Steelworker. worked in Canada for more than 40 years and planned to fund their retirement with some retirement savings and a govem- ment pension. But no one plans for cancer. In 2009. Ms Mitchell was diag- nosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She cannot take Fludarabine and Rimximab. two very powerful chemotherapy drugs She received only two treatments before the regime was abruptly stopped because of an adverse reaction to Fludarabine that nearly killed her. Ms Mitchell's doctor prescribed Bendamustine, which 01 HP will not COVER April 7. she used her American Express card to cover the drug‘s $4.509 price tag. “I feit compiete and utter shock.” Mr. Mitchell said. Moving forward. the Mitchells said they do not have a game plan to pay for the chemotherapy treat- ment. other than drawing on their life savings and credit. “I have to make the payment somehow. I have to make the pay- ment to keep my wife alive.” Mr. Under Ontario drug benefit coverage. seniors 65 and older pay the first $100 of their prescription costs. then $6.11 per prescription under the government program. Mitchell said. But many drugs are not cov- ered and are expensive. Susan Eng. vice-president of advocacy with CARP. said. “In Ontario. peOpIe could fall between the cracks.” she said. “Biologics. for example. are very Anne Mitchell is looking at a potential cost of almost 550,000 for chemotherapy drugs that OHIP will not cover. She has had prior chemotherapy and the drug she should be receiving is only funded for firstâ€"time chemotherapy patients. 2036 PERCENTAGE OF ONTARIO POPULATION IN RETIREMENT A0! 2011 SOURCE: EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CANADA. 201 1 expensive." Biologic drugs are used to treat a wide variety of diseases. particuâ€" larly conditions that affect seniors. including cancer. rheumatoid arthritis. multiple sclerosis and diabetes. It is expected the use of bio- logics among seniors will grow by approximately 20 per cent in the next decade. the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Associa- tion reported. To read the entire story and series, go to yorkregion.com Across (kmada. denial and vision care are major health costs for seniors. together accounting for more than 75 per cent of their health cane spending. They also need funds to pay for other pro- fessionals such as chimpmctors. massage therapists. physiothera- pisis and podiatrists. BRYON )OHNSON PHOYO