National Volunteer Week Part 2 of 6: Frank J. Kormos, “The Outstanding Older Texan”

by Leah Scanlan AARP Driver Safety Program

Meet Frank.

 Frank has been volunteering in some way since he was 20 years old.

Today, at age 96, Frank is AARP Texas’ oldest volunteer and has 76 years of volunteer experience under his belt.

 Frank started volunteering for the AARP Driver Safety Program in September of 1989. Over the past 21 years, he has served as an Instructor, Assistant State Coordinator, Associate State Coordinator, and most recently a Marketing Specialist for the AARP Driver Safety Program. He has instructed over 150 classes during his volunteer career.

 In 1993, Frank received the “Outstanding Older Texan Award” from the management of the Richardson Senior Center where he taught courses.

As a Marketing Specialist, Frank devotes 20-45 hours a week to answering emails, writing advertisements, assisting other DSP volunteers, and researching new ways to get the word out about the AARP Driver Safety Program. More recently, Frank has embraced social media and has begun using Facebook to reach out to prospective students and volunteers.

 When asked what the most rewarding part about being an AARP Driver Safety Program is Frank replied, “The ability to persuade someone to attend a class that can potentially teach him or her things that will save his or her life.”

 He goes on to explain that the course is much more than just giving people discounts on car insurance. “This course is about saving lives.”

 Frank, the AARP DSP staff would like to thank you for your 21 years of dedication to the AARP Driver Safety Program. You have helped to promote safer driving and make a real difference in the lives of people in your Texas community.

 Do you have a volunteer that you would like to see profiled on our Facebook page? If so, please drive@aarp.org.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with the AARP Driver Safety Program visit: www.aarp.org/driversafetyvolunteers.

Retiring? A City Can Help Keep You Young, Age You Faster - AARP Bulletin

by: Candy Sagon | from: AARP Bulletin | April 8, 2011

If you want to look and feel younger than your years, maybe you need to move to another city. Like Salt Lake City, San Francisco or Austin, Texas.

Those are the top three cities in RealAge.com's list of the 10 "youngest" cities in America — metropolitan areas with such healthy lifestyles that on average their residents are physically at least two years younger than their chronological age — and many are years younger than that.

RealAge is a website cofounded by Michael Roizen, M.D., chief wellness officer of the Cleveland Clinic, and internist Keith Roach, M.D., with Weill Medical College of Cornell University. The site offers an online health assessment that has been taken by 27 million people since 1999. 

Respondents are asked about their health habits from sleep to smoking to stress. Sample information from 1,000 men and women in each of the 50 largest metropolitan areas was used to come up with the 10 "youngest" and "oldest" cities, based on the health of their residents. The data were adjusted for age differences, so that a city that attracts retirees wasn't penalized when compared with a college town full of young adults.

And the youngest city in terms of health? Salt Lake City. It topped the list because its residents are gung ho for fitness and loathe smoking.

On the other hand, residents of Knoxville and Nashville may need to start worrying. Those two Tennessee cities are numbers one and three on the list of metro areas most likely to make you old before your time, with Greensboro/Winston-Salem/Highpoint, N.C., coming in second.

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AARP Bulletin Offers The Medicare Starter Kit

Image via WikipediaMore than 70 million people will become eligible for Medicare in the next two decades, and beginning this year, one boomer will turn 65 every eight seconds. But many Boomers know zip about Medicare. Do you need it? What does it cover? When should you sign up?

Because Medicare is not a “one size fits all” insurance program, the April issue of AARP Bulletin (in homes tomorrow) offers readers the Medicare Starter Kit—a special eight-page insert to help Boomers navigate the options and determine what the best next step for them may be.

Available online NOW at http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-04-2011/medicare-starter-guide.html AARP Bulletin breaks down:

- The Top Eight Do's and Don'ts of Medicare
- What Medicare Covers and What it Costs
- How to Qualify and When to Enroll
- Figuring Out Your Choices
- Where to get help

In Campaign Against Health-care Law, Republicans Take on AARP - The Washington Post

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By Dan Eggen

House Republicans, who are continuing their efforts to chip away at President Obama’s health-care law, have now set their sights on a powerful group that strongly supported the legislation: the AARP seniors lobby.

Two GOP members of the House Ways and Means Committee released a report Wednesday alleging that the nation’s largest seniors group stands to gain financially from the Affordable Care Act, because the law could result in greater demand for supplemental Medicare policies that carry the AARP stamp of approval.

In addition, the Ways and Means health and oversight subcommittees have scheduled a joint hearing Friday to grill AARP officials about the organization’s financial ventures.
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Tax Benefits & Free Tax Preparation for Taxpayers with Disabilities - Disabilityt.gov blog

By Guest Blogger Richard Keeling, Senior Tax Analyst, Stakeholder Partnerships Education and Communications, Wage and Investment Division, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Taxpayers with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities may qualify for a number of IRS tax credits and benefits. If you or someone else listed on your federal tax return has a disability, you may be eligible for one of the tax credits listed below. In addition, there are several programs that can help people with disabilities prepare their taxes and file them electronically for free.

1. Standard Deduction: Taxpayers who are legally blind may be entitled to a higher standard deduction on their tax return.
2. Gross Income: Certain disability-related payments, Veterans Administration disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are excluded from gross income.
3. Impairment-Related Work Expenses: Employees who have a physical or mental disability limiting their employment may be able to claim business expenses in connection with their workplace. The expenses must be necessary for the taxpayer to work.
4. Credit for the Elderly or Disabled: This credit is generally available to certain taxpayers who are 65 and older, as well as to certain taxpayers with disabilities who are younger than 65 and are retired on permanent and total disability.
5. Medical Expenses: If you itemize your tax deductions using Form 1040, Schedule A, you may be able to deduct medical expenses. See IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses.
6. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): EITC is available to taxpayers with disabilities, as well as to the parents of a child with a disability. If you retired on disability, taxable benefits you receive under your employer’s disability retirement plan are considered earned income until you reach minimum retirement age. The EITC is a tax credit that not only reduces a taxpayer’s tax liability but may also result in a refund. Many working individuals with a disability who have no qualifying children, but are older than 25 and younger than 65, do qualify for EITC. Additionally, if the taxpayer’s child has a disability, the age limitation for the EITC is waived. The EITC has no effect on certain public benefits. Any refund you receive because of the EITC will not be considered income when determining whether you are eligible for benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid.
7. Child or Dependent Care Credit: Taxpayers who pay someone to care for their dependent or spouse, so they can work or look for work may be entitled to claim this credit. There is no age limit if the taxpayer’s spouse or dependent is unable to care for themselves.

For more information on tax credits and benefits available to taxpayers with disabilities, see Publication 3966, Living and Working with Disabilities or Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities, available on the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/ or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.


Trained community volunteers may help with special credits, such as EITC, Child Tax Credit and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. In addition to free tax return preparation assistance, most sites also offer free electronic filing (e-filing). Individuals taking advantage of the e-file program will receive their refunds in half the time compared to returns filed on paper – even faster when tax refunds are deposited directly into one's bank account.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
The VITA Program offers free tax help to people with low to moderate-income (generally, $49,000 and below) who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers (sponsored by various organizations) receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-906-9887 or visit the VITA site list online. (This list does not include every VITA site.)

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE)
The TCE Program provides free tax help to people ages 60 and older. Trained volunteers from nonprofit organizations provide free tax counseling and basic income tax return preparation for senior citizens. These volunteers are often retired individuals associated with nonprofit organizations that receive grants from the IRS. As part of the TCE Program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program at more than 7,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteer counselors help people of low-to-middle income, with special attention to individuals ages 60 and older.
For more information on TCE, call 1-800-829-1040. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or visit AARP's website.

Additional information about tax benefits for people with disabilities is available in the Tax Credits section of Disability.gov.

Richard Keeling is a Senior Tax Analyst in Stakeholder Partnerships Education and Communications in the Wage and Investment Division of the IRS.  His primary responsibility is working with the Taxpayers with Disabilities Program.

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Henderson v. Shinseki, U.S. Supreme Court Permits Veterans' Delayed Challenges of Denial of Benefits

by Barbara Jones, Sr. Attorney | from: AARP Foundation Litigation

AARP had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that imposed rigid, inflexible rules that harm disabled veterans seeking to appeal the denial of their benefits.

Read AARP's Amicus Brief (PDF)

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Tax Returns Filed Here; Free Tax-Aide Help - AARP Bulletin

by Angela Bryant

For Carol McClusky, 64, the long-dreaded chore of collecting paperwork and filling out income tax forms has taken a turn for the better.

"I used to panic to go back a year and match up forms, but now it's very peaceful," the grandmother of five said.

McClusky attributes her peace of mind to AARP Tax-Aide, a free program that helps seniors and low- to moderate-income taxpayers do their taxes.

By close of business on Tax Day — this year extended to April 18 — AARP Tax-Aide will have helped McClusky and an estimated 2.5 million other taxpayers navigate complicated tax codes, ensure proper credits and deductions and file their returns to the Internal Revenue Service and state and local tax agencies.

Established in 1968 with four volunteers, the AARP Foundation program has blossomed into a national program with about 35,000 volunteers, each one trained by AARP and certified by the IRS. Last year, the volunteers helped users get refunds totaling $1.2 billion and earned income tax credits totaling $233 million.

The program is one of AARP's largest service activities, with people signing up as future volunteers year-round.

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AARP and National Urban League Report Looks At Prospects For African-American Older Workers As Economy Recovers

A report released by AARP and the National Urban League takes a look at the prospects for African-American older workers as the economy recovers.

The new report, prepared for the two organizations by the Urban Institute, examines the labor market experiences of African-American workers aged 50 and over. AARP and the National Urban League point out in the study that older African-Americans could be well-positioned to take advantage of job opportunities likely to emerge in the rejuvenated economy. The study projects that health care and social service sectors are likely to generate many new jobs in the years ahead.

“As the recovery speeds up, older African-Americans can help meet employment needs in both the private and public sectors,” said Deborah Russell, director of workforce issues at AARP. “The role of community colleges and the workforce development community will be crucial in helping mature workers fill eventual shortages in high growth industries. Training programs that keep workers’ skills up-to-date are critical to maximizing these opportunities.”

Older African-Americans already make a significant contribution to the economy – the 4.6 million aged 50 and over are 9.5 percent of the aged 50-plus labor force, as of January, 2011. According to the study, African-American older workers have contributed at least $160 billion in earnings to the economy.

In the context of these contributions, the great recession has been particularly devastating for African -American older workers. Frequently saddled with fewer resources than Americans over all, they have faced crushing burdens that include declining housing values, health care cost increases, reduced retirement savings, and high unemployment.

Russell and Dr. Valerie Rawlston Wilson of the National Urban League noted that the community college system provides training opportunities that might be particularly valuable to 50+ African-Americans in search of additional skills and credentials as they seek employment in the new economy.

“Retraining mature workers with a desire and need to remain in the workforce is one of the most constructive ways of addressing the economic challenges this cohort faces while also capitalizing on the tremendous wealth of experience they bring to the workplace,” said Dr. Wilson, vice president of research at the National Urban League Policy Institute. “Facilitating the path to entrepreneurship is also a way to build upon the knowledge and creative capacity of this population,” she said.

AARP, in conjunction with the National Urban League Policy Institute, will hold a forum on March 8, from 8:30 am – noon, in New York City (concourse level of AARP offices, 780 Third Avenue, Manhattan, that will focus on the findings of the study.

The report also focuses on current resources available to assist employers in assessing their needs in a multi-cultural, multi-generational economy. Those resources include AARP’s free online Workforce Assessment Tool (http://www.aarpworkforceassessment.org/us/index.cfm).

This unique planning resource, which already has been used by more than 1,500 companies, provides a snapshot of an organization’s workforce and demographics and the programs in place to leverage the talents and experience of its older workers.

For a copy of the full report, visit www.aarp.org/olderblackworkers. For more information, contact AARP Media Relations at 202-434-2560.

Unemployment Down but Overall Job Growth Remains Anemic

Image by E ❤ Y via Flickr


The AARP Public Policy Institute has released a new report on unemployment. Some of the findings are:

About 66,000 fewer persons aged 55 and over were unemployed in January than in December, as the unemployment rate for this age group fell from 6.9 percent to 6.7 percent.

The improvement in the unemployment rate was concentrated among older men; both the number unemployed and the unemployment rate increased among older women.

After falling in December, average duration of unemployment for older jobseekers rose in January to 44.4 weeks. Half (50.5 percent) had been out of work for 27 or more weeks, somewhat fewer than in December.

The number of older involuntary part-time workers barely changed in January. However, considerably fewer older persons wanted a job but were not looking for one because they were discouraged about their job prospects.
Full Report

The Long Term Care Discussion Group

The Long Term Care Discussion Group

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A voluntary independent group that meets solely for the purpose

of educating the policy community on all facets of long term care

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

10:30 a.m. Eastern Time

AARP Offices ~ 601 E Street, NW, Room B2-130

Recent AARP Research:  How LTC Is Weathering the State Financial Storm & Trends in Disability, Community Living, and Caregiving

(Please note – you must RSVP in advance to get into the building)

Speakers: Wendy Fox-Grage & Don Redfoot

 

Wendy Fox-Grage is a Senior Strategic Policy Advisor for the AARP Public Policy Institute. For the past six years in this role, she has identified emerging policy issues and developed policy options and reform strategies in long term services and supports. She has conducted public policy research and provided policy analysis and guidance to state AARP offices.  Previously, she was Program Principal for the National Conference of State Legislatures.  In that role, Wendy provided technical assistance to state legislators, legislative staff, press and others on health care issues, analyzed state and federal legislation and monitored legislative trends.  Wendy also was a Congressional fellow with the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and has both a Master of Science in Gerontology and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

 

Donald L. Redfoot, Ph D. has been a Strategic Policy Advisor with AARP’s Public Policy Institute for the past 15 years. During that time, he has conducted and supervised research on long term care and housing public policy issues, including: assisted living, end-of-life care, trends in disability and institutional care, international comparisons of long term care systems, and reverse mortgages. He has participated in numerous expert panels and boards, including serving as a founding member and, for two years, Chairman of the Board of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, an umbrella organization of 11 national stakeholder organizations involved with assisted living.  Previously, he served for eight years as AARP’s Legislative Representative on housing and transportation issues.  Don received his Ph.D. in sociology from Rutgers University, his M.A. in the social sciences at the University of Chicago, and his B.A. in sociology from Westminster College (PA). He has written numerous reports and articles for academic, policy, and popular audiences.

Please RSVP to Joyce Tower at JTower@univitahealth.com

Long Term Care Discussion Group Co-Chairs:

Winthrop Cashdollar, John Cutler, Karl Polzer, Jill Randolph, and Eileen J. Tell

For more information about the Long Term Care Discussion Group, visit www.ltcdiscussiongroup.org

Spotlight Webcast: Poverty's Impact on Older Americans

ARRP WEBCAST from Spotlight on Vimeo.

More than 6 million people age 60 and over have trouble getting enough to eat. Older Americans are also facing serious financial problems and forced to live in poverty.

What's the latest official poverty rates for the elderly 65 and older? Why do 2/3 of the elderly who qualify for SNAP not filing for this program? What is AARP's Drive to End Hunger? What's the prognosis for those who are most vulnerable?

The new president of the AARP Foundation, Jo Ann Jenkins,  speaks with Spotlights Jodie Levin-Epstein to explore these issues and the solutions the foundation is targeting.

Many Boomers Report No Savings; Debt, Retirement Challenges - AARP Bulletin

by: Carole Fleck from: AARP Bulletin

The generation that gave rise to Hula-Hoops, Woodstock and Jimi Hendrix is reaching America's traditional retirement age this year woefully unprepared. As the oldest of the boomers turn 65, they face a retirement that is unlikely to go as smoothly as their parents' did.

The lingering pain from the most severe recession since World War II is partly to blame. Many boomers are on the verge of ending their work lives without fully recovering fortunes lost in the housing and stock markets.
That translates to less money to fund their retirement years, which could stretch for three decades given that boomers can expect to live into their 90s.

A poll released Wednesday found that a whopping 25 percent of people ages 46 to 64 say they have no retirement savings — and 26 percent have no personal savings.

The situation is almost as grim for adults 65 and older: 22 percent have no retirement savings and 14 percent have no personal savings, according to the poll of 2,151 adults conducted in November by Harris Interactive.

Full Article

Improvements to Medicare Health and Drug Plans

AARP Press Release

WASHINGTON—AARP today submitted comments on regulations proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Many of the proposed regulations for Medicare health and prescription drug plans could improve care, lower costs and simplify enrollment for people in Medicare.

AARP Legislative Policy Director David Certner, the author of the comments, said: “We applaud CMS for working to continually improve the Medicare plans that millions of seniors rely on. While we recommend several areas to strengthen these regulations, on the whole, they will simplify and improve the plans available to people in Medicare.”

Excerpts from AARP’s letter to CMS follow:

On simplifying election periods for Medicare health and drug plans: “AARP strongly supports efforts to simplify beneficiary enrollment for Parts C and D. However, AARP is concerned that this change could result in beneficiary confusion and/or missed enrollment opportunities unless it is widely and effectively promoted. Therefore, AARP urges CMS to work with plan sponsors and beneficiary advocates to develop a public education campaign that will help ensure that all beneficiaries are aware of the new dates for the annual coordinated election period. AARP further believes that Congress should put Medicare fee-for-service and MA on a level playing field by creating an open enrollment period that makes all Medigap products available without regard to health status or pre-existing conditions.”

On income-related Part D premiums: “AARP did not support imposing an income-related premium in the Medicare Part D program. AARP has concerns about the potentially adverse effect of the income related Part D premium on the Part D program and its enrollees…. Nevertheless, we commend CMS for its efforts to develop timely regulations to implement the ACA provision. We are particularly supportive of the proposal in the NPRM to give Medicare beneficiaries a 3-month grace period, and an extension of the grace period for good cause, to pay the Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount before their coverage could be terminated.”

On eliminating Part D cost-sharing for “dual eligibles” receiving care at home: “AARP supports the promulgation of this provision, which will create equity in Part D cost-sharing between institutionalized full-benefit dual eligibles and full-benefit dual eligibles receiving substantially the same services in the community.”

On Medicare Advantage cost-sharing for covered preventive care: “AARP strongly supports requiring [MA plans], including section 1876 cost plans, to provide preventive benefits at zero cost-sharing. This measure would align policy for the MA program with the FFS Medicare requirements. It makes sense in terms of providing appropriate incentives to MA enrollees to obtain preventive services and should have the longer term effect of improving health outcomes for the Medicare population.”

To obtain a complete copy of AARP’s letter to CMS, please contact AARP Media Relations at 202-434-2560 or media@aarp.org.

Poll Spotlights Perceptions of Boomers on Aging, Retirement, Work - AARP Bulletin

Image by Flicrk via Flickr
by: Carole Fleck | from: AARP Bulletin

They came of age starting in the turbulent 1960s amid the Vietnam War, the fight for civil rights and women's rights. Today, America's largest generation, the boomers (those born 1946-1964), still question authority and have a strong social conscience, according to an AARP Bulletin poll on perceptions of boomers.

The oldest of the boomers are turning 65 this month. Yet at least two in three boomers — who were 46 to 64 years old when the poll was done in November — fear aging, think that the term "senior" doesn't apply to them and believe that they'll be healthier in retirement than their parents were, the survey found.

But they may not be better off financially. Only 43 percent of 1,507 people age 18 and up surveyed say they believe that boomers will have more money in retirement compared with their parents' generation. Among the boomers polled, 45 percent of those ages 46 to 53, and 54 percent of those ages 54 to 64, agree.

Full Article

A Shelter From Elder Abuse, Caregiving - AARP Bulletin

by: Sally Abrahms

When Tom* learned his 30-year-old son was moving to America from West Africa to live with him, he was thrilled. For more than 20 years, he had worked two jobs, as a New York City cabdriver and a security guard, so he could support his wife and seven children back home.

What he did not anticipate was having a drunk driver hit his cab, breaking two knees and his back so he was unable to work, as well as a son who refused to get a job. One day, Tom asked his son to turn down the radio. Instead, he stormed over to his dad, broke his cane and locked him in his bedroom.

Walking down the street another day, "I felt someone behind me," recalls Tom. "My son jumped on my back, and grabbed the food in my hand. I fell to the ground. 'One day I will kill you,' he said. I was in an accident and he was supposed to help me. I sacrificed my life for my kids, and this is how my son says thank you? Why did he do this to me?"

It's a question that staff get asked repeatedly by the dozen or so residents, like Tom, who come each year to the Weinberg Center for Elder Abuse Prevention located at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in the Bronx, N.Y., the nation's first elder abuse shelter in a long-term care facility.

A whole new concept of protection

The concept couldn't come soon enough for the age 65-plus victims of physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse, most often hurt at the hands of a family member who may also be their caregiver. Among the victims are those with dementia who may not be able to articulate the abuse; their bruises or empty bank accounts speak for themselves.

While Americans are living longer — thus delaying inheritances — unemployment is growing, the economy continues to sour and adult children and their older parents are being forced to move in together.

Full Article

The New Health Care Law and Dental Coverage - AARP Bulletin

by: Susan Jaffe

No. The law doesn't require insurers to cover dental care for adults, but there's a good chance that could change when the state insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014. These exchanges will be online marketplaces where consumers can easily compare prices and coverage and find the policy that best fits their needs.

The law says that health insurance plans sold on an exchange have to cover an "essential health benefits" package similar to the typical employer-sponsored health care policy. Nearly half of the employers offering health benefits to their employees this year provide some kind of dental coverage, including 87 percent of employers with 200 or more workers, according to a recent survey.

Although adult dental care is not among some examples of benefits the law says must be covered, consumer advocates say it appears that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could include it in the regulations that will detail what essential benefits must be provided.

Full Article

Loneliness Among Older Adults

Image via WikipediaRecently, AARP released a survey titled Loneliness among Older Adults [pdf] which was conducted during the summer.

The survey included 4,610 U.S. residents, age 45 and older, who participated online. Those who needed it were provided with hardware and internet access. Overall, 35 percent (1,614) reported feeling lonely to various degrees which is an increase from 20 percent, says AARP, over a similar survey 10 years ago.
Full Report

AARP Survey: Needs on Key Issues Trump Partisan Divisions for Voters Age 50+

A new survey released today by AARP offers a closer look at the attitudes and priorities of AARP members heading into the 2010 midterm elections – and challenges some of the conventional wisdom about what will drive their votes.

“No one should be surprised that a political environment that has become increasingly more combative over the last few elections would yield some predictable partisan divisions among voters,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “The real story here is that at a time of growing partisanship, older Americans across the ideological spectrum share many of the same concerns on key issues and are demanding common-sense solutions from their elected leaders.
Full Article

Health Care Reform Explained - AARP Bulletin

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeby: Susan Jaffe | from: AARP Bulletin

Confused about the new health care reforms? You’re not alone. The legislation is full of new benefits, rules, penalties and projects, spread out over several years.
To help you understand what the health care law means for you, the AARP Bulletin is answering your questions about:

Access to Coverage

Q. I'm 58 and retired. I understand the new reform law helps employers offer health care coverage to their early retirees ... More
Q. I'm over 50 and have been turned away by insurers because of my health problems ... More
Q. I'm 62. If I retire this year, what type of medical coverage can I get before Medicare kicks in? ... More
Q. My insurance company told me my 23 year old daughter could no longer be on my family plan. I've heard I can insure her now... More
Q. I'm disabled, in my 50s, and over the eligibility line for Medicaid. But I can’t afford health insurance ... More
Q. Does the new health care reform law eliminate annual and lifetime limits on health care coverage in insurance policies? ... More

Access to Care

Q. I'm having trouble finding a primary care doctor now. Will it be harder for me to get one when millions more people ... More
Q. Does the law limit the treatment my doctor can give me? Will some faceless bureaucrat decide I'm "too old" for surgery? ... More
Q. If we use wellness programs, can we get a discount on our insurance costs? ... More
Q. Must insurance companies offer free cancer screenings and other preventive health benefits? ... More
Q. What does health reform do to help people with mental illness get the treatment they need? ... More

Rules and Requirements

Q. Will I be forced to buy insurance? What if I can't afford it? ... More
Q. We own a small business. Will the law force us to provide our part-time employees with health insurance? ... More
Q. What does it mean if my health plan is "grandfathered"? ... More
Q. Will a Muslim be required to buy health insurance? There are lots of rumors on the Internet about this ... More
Q. I heard the IRS is hiring 16,500 agents just to make sure we buy insurance ... More

Savings and Costs

Q. President Obama says health care reform will save us money, but others say we'll pay more in taxes ... More
Q. Will the new law help us afford better insurance? ... More
Q. How does health care reform lower our insurance costs? ... More
Q. My premium for an individual health insurance policy is going up 22 percent. Can they do that?... More
Q. What health care reforms start Sept. 23, 2010, and what's so magical about that date? ... More
Q. Is there a big new tax on home sales that is supposed to raise money to pay for health reform? More

Medicare, Medicaid and Other Insurance

Q. I have many health problems, low income, no insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid. Will the new law help people like me? ... More
Q. I've heard that government payments to Medicare Advantage will be reduced or stopped altogether ... More
Q. Will the new law make it easier to get long-term care health insurance? ... More
Q. I'm a Marine Corps veteran with health coverage through TriCare and the V.A. Will there be changes to my coverage ... More
Q. How does the new law strengthen Medicare while reducing its funds? ... More
Q. Will Medicare provide free services to help quit smoking? ... More
Q. How does the law stop Medicare and Medicaid fraud? ... More

Full Article

Younger Americans Support Social Security, Poll Finds - NYTimes.com

Image via WikipediaBy PAULA SPAN

It’s not surprising that Americans over age 65 are virtually unanimous in seeing Social Security as an important government program. As a group, they rely on it as the single greatest source of income in retirement.

But a poll commissioned by AARP to mark Social Security’s 75th anniversary (President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the transformational legislation on August 14, 1935) has found something even more interesting: young people line up solidly behind Social Security, too.
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