Early Retirement Aligns With Early Death, Study Finds

Second, according to the paper, health insurance status can change as – upon stopping employment – employer-sponsored health insurance ceases or is more expensive under continuing-coverage mandates. And, as the paper notes, Medicare is unavailable until age 65.

(Related: Should We All Just Work Longer?)

Third, income can change at age 62 due to the arrival of Social Security income and the reduction in earnings.

"Each change potentially has detrimental health consequences," the paper states.

Those claiming Social Security upon reaching 62 also differ from later claimants in terms of their socioeconomic and health characteristics, according to the paper.

"Those claiming at 62 are more likely to report being in poor health and retiring due to health-related reasons," the paper states. "They are more likely to report having worked in a job that required physical activity, and less likely to have had a job involving stress much of the time."

The paper notes that these characteristics may limit the generalizability of its findings to the rest of the population. However, the paper also notes that "age-62 claimants represent approximately one-third of the U.S. population and a higher fraction of Social-Security-covered workers, so understanding their immediate health effects is important in its own right."

— Related on ThinkAdvisor:

• 20 Best Paying Jobs for College Business Majors: 2017
• Should We All Just Work Longer?
• How 3 Generations Prepare for Retirement