The possibility of the loss of Medicare or lesser health care coverage frightens people who have medical conditions because most believe they will not get health insurance for pre-existing conditions. If they do get coverage, costs may be prohibitive. When the SSDI program was conceived in the nineteen fifties, jobs available in the national economy were very different. The health care system too, was different. The nature of treatments and their effectiveness are now greatly altered.
Assistive technology provides ability to work for many persons today.
In the last 40 years, work and the work place have changed from industrial to service settings. Work at home is increasing. Most jobs require mental skills, reasoning, decision making, ability to work under pressure, not heavy lifting. Computing skills are practically mandatory for a majority of jobs. Mergers and downsizings are common place and bringing a reduced sense of job security.