Given that taxpayers contribute significantly to both the development of drugs and drug spending, you would think that there would be some federal controls on drug prices. Instead, the US allows drug...
Diane Archer
What’s the Medicare Part B premium in 2018?
The 2018 standard monthly Medicare Part B premium, which covers medical and outpatient care, remains at $134.00, the same as in 2017, for people with incomes of $85,000 or less. But, only about...
What’s a living funeral?
As we age, it’s important to plan for the unexpected. Planning ahead can mean everything from getting your affairs in order so the people you know and trust can tend to them if you cannot, to...
Long-term care at a glance; many of us will need it
Because we don’t live forever, it’s important to be prepared in the event that you or a loved one needs long-term care. In 2010, 12 million people needed long-term care. As the baby boomers...
Cohousing: Independence, companionship and community
Sharon Jayson of Kaiser Health News reports on cohousing, a new trend in housing for older adults that recognizes the value of social networks. Cohousing offers older adults independence...
Medicare drug benefit leaves many with high out-of-pocket costs
The Kaiser Family Foundation just released a report documenting the high out-of-pocket costs for many people with the Medicare Part D drug benefit. Without an out-of-pocket cap, the Medicare drug...
Will CMS reduce people’s Part D drug costs?
A recent article by Sarah Jane Tribble in Kaiser Health News suggests that people with Medicare may see their out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs shrink. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid...
New Zealanders join coffin clubs to plan their funerals
Earlier this month, National Geographic released a video about older New Zealanders (Kiwis) who join “coffin clubs” to plan their funerals. Coffin clubs allow them to bring their...
Congress may end tax deduction for medical expenses
The House Republicans are proposing a tax bill that would end the tax deduction for medical expenses. This tax deduction benefits people whose medical spending represents more than ten percent of...
Health care has become increasingly unaffordable
A new paper by Ezekiel Emanuel, Aaron Glickman and David Johnson, published in the JAMA Network reveals that working people spend twice as much of their income on health care today as they did in...