JustCare

Category: Health and financial security

  • New AARP Polls Reveal High Anxiety Among Boomers About Retirement Security

    New AARP Polls Reveal High Anxiety Among Boomers About Retirement Security

    New AARP polls in Arkansas, Iowa and North Carolina show high anxiety about retirement security among Americans 50 and older.  According to AARP, boomers and older adults are looking for candidates in the November election to address health and financial security issues.

    Older Democrats and Republicans alike feel anxiety about their inability to cover health and financial needs in retirement, including paying for their own or a spouse’s care that Medicare does not pay for.

    Of Iowans polled, 78 percent said that they opposed candidates who support cuts to Social Security to reduce the deficit, and 73 percent want Medicare to reduce drug costs.  Poll results were similar in Arkansas and North Carolina, where respectively 74 and 76 percent said they opposed candidates who support cuts to Social Security to reduce the deficit.

    Click here to take action to protect and expand Social Security!

  • Doormen could be your best bet for preventing elder abuse

    Doormen could be your best bet for preventing elder abuse

     
    Elder abuse is a growing problem, and one that often goes unreported. Thankfully, some doormen are being trained to identify signs of elder abuse.

  • State-by-state report card on America’s health care system

    State-by-state report card on America’s health care system

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    To learn more from the American College of Emergency Physicians about your state’s rankings on access to emergency care, quality and patient safety, medical liability, public health and disaster preparedness, click here: http://www.emreportcard.org
  • Could you be eating too little salt?

    Could you be eating too little salt?

    The latest research on salt intake leaves unclear whether we should all be eating more salt, at least more than the teaspoon a day—2.3 grams—that has been recommended by the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association and many doctors.

    The common view is that low salt intake controls blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.  But the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports that there is not enough evidence to support this view.  If your salt intake is less than a teaspoon a day, there is little data on the benefit and some data to suggest it can be harmful to some subpopulations.

    The researchers at the Institute of Medicine do not specify what the appropriate level of salt intake should be, only that two new studies show some adverse health effects from too little salt intake—below the teaspoon a day.   But, the studies are limited in scope.  And, the IOM researchers see a need for more research on this topic.Read more about this from the National Library of Medicine here and in the New York Times here.

  • New survey finds that health reform is helping millions of Americans get needed care

    New survey finds that health reform is helping millions of Americans get needed care

    Health reform is helping millions of Americans. As a result of health care reform, 15 percent of Americans lack health insurance today, down from 20 percent a year ago, according to a new survey by The Commonwealth Fund. Almost six million more young adults between 19 and 34 have insurance.  And, all in, nine and a half million more adults are now insured.

    Consumer satisfaction with their new health insurance coverage is also relatively high, with 78 percent either somewhat or very satisfied with their coverage.  Of those who are somewhat satisfied or very satisfied, 74 percent are Republicans and 85 percent are Democrats.  And, six out of ten people with new coverage have used it already to see a doctor or fill a prescription.

    Close to six out of ten people with new coverage (58 percent) say they are better off with their coverage than they were before.  And, 27 percent report no effect in their situation.  Only nine percent say they are worse off.

    Uninsurance varies by race and ethnicity.  Since last year, the percentage of uninsured White Americans dropped from 16 to 12 percent.  The percentage of uninsured Latinos dropped from 36 to 23 percent.  The percentage of uninsured African Americans dropped from 21 to 20 percent.