Health insurers argue that requiring prior authorization before you receive certain services–approval for particular treatment–allows them to better manage your care. In fact, prior...
Diane Archer
Does exercise make you hungrier?
Gretchen Reynolds reports for The New York Times on a new study that speaks to the effects of exercise on hunger. As you might expect, you are not likely to lose weight simply by exercising...
Exercise helps strengthen your knees, even when it causes pain
As we age, there’s a high likelihood that we will develop knee pain. There’s also a lot of folk wisdom around what you should do to preserve your knees. Alex Hutchinson, The New York...
US House passes Build Back Better Act
Last week, the US House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, legislation designed to improve the lives of tens of millions of Americans. The Senate still needs to pass the bill before...
Covid-19 roundup: What you should know
The novel coronavirus has taken an incalculably enormous toll on Americans of all ages, particularly older adults. That said, people with Medicare have better Covid-19 protections than most other...
New government rules to protect patients from surprise medical...
New rules issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that protect patients from surprise bills face pushback from doctors and scores of members of Congress. Secretary of HHS...
One billionaire’s influence over lowering drug prices
Rose Adams writes for The American Prospect about one billionaire’s influence over lowering drug prices. John Arnold, a former senior executive at Enron–remember Enron, the company that...
What if physicians can’t calculate patients’...
A new paper in JAMA Network Open finds that physicians are bad at figuring out patients’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, even when deductible, coinsurance, copay and out-of-pocket cap...
New Alzheimer’s drug drives up Part B premiums
As with all health care costs, Medicare out-of-pocket costs are rising rapidly. In 2022, Medicare Part B premiums, which everyone with Medicare must pay–except for people with...
What are Medicare premium and other costs in 2022?
The Medicare Open Enrollment period ends on December 7, so you still have time to review your Medicare options for 2022. Particularly if you have Medicare Part D drug coverage or are enrolled in a...