Benjamin Franklin once said “(n)othing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Today (April 16) is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day for health care decision planning. And, in keeping with Franklin’s famous quote, each year National Healthcare Decisions Day is observed the day after Tax Day. National Healthcare Decisions Day is […]
Does the No Surprises Act Protect Seniors Against Unanticipated Medical Bills?
Ever open your mailbox to find a surprise medical bill you completely did not expect? Perhaps you had an emergency and had to go to the nearest doctor or hospital to receive care? What if you were not yet on Medicare or have a Medicare advantage plan and had to use an out-of-network provider? Surprise […]
Is Original Medicare Sufficient?
Dear Angel, My mom is eligible for Medicare this year and is exploring her options. She is not sure whether to get a supplemental plan, or if original Medicare is enough. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks, Iz Ittanuff — Dear Iz, Most people on Medicare feel that original Medicare is not sufficient, and […]
How to Choose a Health Care Agent
Dear Angel, I have an appointment to do my incapacity planning, and I’m a little indecisive about who I should choose as my health care agent. What qualities would make someone a good choice for a health care agent? I’m hoping this will help me make my choice. Thanks, Dee Sissions —– Dear Dee, A […]
Implications of ACA Repeal for Seniors
Q. It is clear that the Republican congesss wants to pass a measure to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) outright. In my view, the ACA has been good for seniors because it eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions, keeps children on parents’ policies to age 26, eliminates gender discrimination in pricing, and provides significantly more preventive […]
What Medicare Won’t Cover
Q. When my mom turns 65, she will enroll in Medicare, as most seniors do. My understanding about Medicare is that Part A is hospital insurance and Medicare Part B helps pay for doctors’ services and other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A. My mother seems to think that Medicare […]
Do Not Resuscitate Orders Being Placed Without Patient Consent?
All of us can be lulled into believing we’ve got plenty of time, until something unexpected happens. Whether it’s a car accident, a heart attack, a fire, or a stroke, those who procrastinated and didn’t plan in advance often kick themselves for not taking action sooner. Let’s take, for example, Michelle Singletary, a Washington Post […]
The Most Important Awareness Day of the Year (and only 20- 30% realize it!)
Anne is 71 years old, and her health is rapidly declining. When her time comes, she is confident that she wants to donate her organs to help someone else live a longer and healthier life. She also wants to be buried next to her second husband, Joseph. Anne has three children — two from her […]
A New Era of Human Longevity
Happy Birthday Irene Ciuffoletti! Irene Ciuffoletti, a nursing home resident in Pennsylvania, celebrated her 113th birthday last week with other residents, enjoying cake and music. A widow for more than half a century, she has outlived all but one of her five sons. She was already a centenarian when she arrived at the nursing home […]
Be Very Afraid: Our Top Ten Scariest Articles
With Halloween upon us, now is the time when we present you with this year’s scariest & creepiest stories. From posthumous messages from loved ones to Alzheimer’s being contagious, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles for you to revisit (if you dare). As always, thank you for reading […]
What is the NOTICE Act?
Dear Baxter, I read that the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act passed the US Senate earlier this week. Can you explain what observation care means, and what this new law would entail? Thanks, Inda Hospitalle —- Dear Inda, Observation care is a hospital classification used when patients are not […]
Highlights from the White House Conference on Aging
Photo from Whitehouse.gov This past Monday, on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid and the 80th anniversary of Social Security, the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging was held. During the conference, 200 advocates, health care workers, and government officials discussed caring for seniors, addressing topics such as […]
Want Free Long-Term Care? Try Medicare Part G.
Q. Nursing homes are so exorbitantly expensive. There is no way I can afford long-term care for myself, when the time comes, or for my husband, Morty. Is there any way to qualify for free long-term care in this country? A friend told me there’s a Medicare Part G that pays for free long-term care, […]
Caution: Our Top 10 SCARIEST Articles
With Halloween upon us, it is time to present you, our dear readers, with this year’s scariest & creepiest stories. From the nightmare of probate to court cases involving filial responsibility, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles for you to revisit (if you dare). As always, thank you […]
Gidget Chirps In
Dear Gidget: I just read a story in the latest National Geographic about how certain fats in the blood of a python help its organs to double in size after eating a big meal to facilitate digestion. Apparently, it’s a healthy thing to have all that fat after all! So does this mean that I […]
Obamacare Warfare: Why is the Public Positively Puzzled on Health Reform?
Paradoxically, the same principle that ensures Democracy in America is the source of the maddening confusion, delay, and uncertainty: “the Separation of Powers.”
A Mixed Bag in Virginia: Federal Law Prohibits 2011 Social Security Increases, but Federal Agency Grants Millions to Disadvantaged Groups
As Halloween approaches this year, I can’t help but draw an analogy between the nights I spent meandering my neighborhood as a kid looking for handouts, and our current economic times. I recall my grade-school friends and I operating our minds at their collective capacities, as we planned the best streets to target and the best […]
Reverse Mortgage Rules Changing Again
I’ve written several times over the years on the topic of Reverse Mortgages. My first article explained the concept and requirements of a Reverse Mortgage and how seniors can use a reverse mortgage. My second article, entitled Using a Reverse Mortgage to Pay for Home Care, explained how the Reverse Mortgage can be used as a tool […]
Be Prepared
In my last blog post, I mentioned I’d be spending a week and a half working as a member of the archery staff at the BSA National Scout Jamboree, helping the Boy Scouts of America celebrate its 100th Anniversary. Well, I’m happy to report that I made it back to work last week, safe and sound despite having […]
Survey Shows Some Nursing Homes May Bill For Services Not Provided
A recent Washington Post article concludes that many nursing homes have been “up-coding” billing for care of residents for years, meaning that some nursing homes sometimes bill a resident more than they should be billed by using a special billing category intended to be used only for the five percent of nursing home patients who need highly […]