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Opinions & Analysis Monday, January 12, 2009 Today's Views & Opinions for Senior Citizens & Baby Boomers More Senior Citizen News and Information Than Any Other Source - SeniorJournal.com Editor's Note: We welcome other views from qualified contributors.
Opining of a Cranky Old Man: By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis A Retiree’s Lament: Stop The World I Want To Get Off! Editor’s Note: Ever wonder why people often refer to senior citizens as “cranky old men.” Read this column by our occasional contributor, who is a retired senior. By Bill Kalmar, Retiree Dec. 31, 2008 - Well, it’s that time of the year again. The usual number of prognosticators, soothsayers and mind readers are emerging from their cocoons to tantalize us with those irritating lists, which attempt to capture what was best in the past year and what we can expect in 2009. While reading these lists I sometimes feel that I am living in a parallel universe! Read more... Top Ten Things One Senior Citizen Wants When Holiday Shopping Editor’s Note: Ever wonder why people often refer to senior citizens as “cranky old men.” Read this column by our occasional contributor, who is a retired senior. By Bill Kalmar, retiree Dec. 3, 2008 - As we move into the frenzy of the Holiday shopping season most of us will have encounters with shopping center store personnel and restaurant staff. Stores and restaurants will be filled with people looking for that perfect gift, then quickly digesting a meal in order to be prepared for another crazed journey searching for another perfect gift. Let’s hope that we can do so with a minimum amount of stress and confusion. In that regard here are my tips to make that a reality... Read more... Medicare has Created Wild West Marketplace, Older Americans Ripe for Exploitation President of Medicare Rights Center on choice of prescription drug and Medicare health plans for 2009
Sept. 26, 2008 - Once again, all across the country, people with Medicare will face for 2009 a bewildering choice of nearly 50 prescription drug plans and over 40 Medicare health plans, including HMOs, PPOs, and private fee-for-service plans of every variety. It is a Wild West marketplace and older Americans are ripe for exploitation. Read more... New Adventures of An Old Senior Citizen or Facing the Reality of Aging Watching Old Christine acclimate herself to new challenges impacted me as I entered 2008 looking forward to turning 65 By Bill Kalmar Sept. 12, 2008 - One of the bright spots in an otherwise bland TV season features an alumnus from the successful “Seinfeld” program, namely Julia Louis-Dreyfus who stars in the “New Adventures of Old Christine”. It monitors the lifestyle changes of a divorcee attempting to re-enter the world of dating and socializing. Its humor is sophisticated and yet somewhat zany. Read more... What Happens Every December? The Battle to Stop Medicare from Cutting Physician Pay Usually the proposed cuts are just pushed ahead but this year looks different - although Washington stockings are getting filled By Tucker Sutherland, editor
Senior Citizen Health & Medicine Senior Citizens Must Join Campaign to Require Hospitals Report Staph Infections Consumers Union urges Congress to enact HR 1174 (Murphy) to spur hospitals to reduce deadly infections By Tucker Sutherland, Editor & Publisher
Nov. 8, 2007 – The news that nearly 19,000 Americans died in 2005 from antibiotic-resistant staph infections – mostly acquired in health care facilities – and that it has increased 10 fold since 1995, should be shocking and extremely alarming to senior citizens, the most frequent visitors to healthcare settings. What is even more shocking is that most states allow hospitals to keep information about these infections secret, which has allowed the infection to spread rapidly with little public notice or protection. Seniors need to demand changes. Read more... Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis Aging of America Will Affect Every Part of Society, Touch Every Family Senior citizens deserve best quality of life our nation can afford
By Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman
New Health Spending Data Not Cause for Celebration U.S. still spends twice what other industrialized countries spend per person; growth of 6.9% outpaces inflation and growth in wages
January 9, 2007 - Today’s release of new federal data on health care spending by researchers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)* indicates that spending slowed for the third straight year in 2005 and that health spending as a percent of Gross Domestic Product held virtually constant at 16.0 percent, compared to 15.9 percent in 2004. Read more... Opinion - Medicare Drug Program Every Senior Citizen Should Reevaluate Their Drug Plan Choice By Tucker Sutherland, editor November 16, 2006 – The enrollment period for the Medicare drug program opened yesterday and all senior citizens should review their current drug plan and other options – some new – that are available to them. Many plans have changed (prices and/or benefits) and for many seniors their personal situations may have changed. For example, some took no drugs in 2006, but see a need in 2007, which would drastically change the type of plan they choose. Read more... Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis Privatizing Medicare: The Train has Already Left the Station
October 25, 2006 - While the country debates the merits and concerns about Social Security privatization, Medicare has been morphed into a set of private plans with little attention or discussion. The private Medicare train is already out of the station. Read more... Workplace Not Like When We Were There – It's the Corporate Running of the Bulls
October 3, 2006 - Rather than travel to Pamplona Spain to view the annual Running of the Bulls, one need go no further than the parking lots of our nation's companies. It is here that people described in the company's brochures as our "most important asset" are being herded and unceremoniously directed to their automobiles after years of service. Read more... Opinion: Medicare Means Testing a Costly Slip Senior citizen group supports House bill to repeal higher Medicare premiums based on income
September 11, 2006 - For the first time since Medicare's creation 41 years ago, seniors will no longer pay the same amount for the same services. Premium rates for Part B - expected to be announced later this month by the Department of Health and Human Services for 2007 - now will be means tested, that is, determined based on income. Read more... Opinions of a retiree Thoughts of a Retiree in His Hammock on a Dog Day Afternoon By Bill Kalmar, retired July 12, 2006 - Being retired affords one the opportunity to periodically relax in a hammock on a hot summer afternoon inscribing answers in a cross-world puzzle and contemplating the latest world and local news. While trying to think of a three-letter word for "Thurman of the screen", my thoughts turn to a myriad of topics... Read more... Opinion: Medicare Drum Beat to Reduce Medicare Costs May Endanger Some Senior Citizens Study says switching some from ICDs to AEDs could save money to help more seniors but it may also be way to just save money By Tucker Sutherland, editor
June 19, 2006 – The growth of Medicare costs is undoubtedly the largest financial challenge facing the U.S. and a research team suggests the program can save millions by making tougher judgments on which senior citizens get implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and which must settle for the less expensive, less reliable automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The thrust of the study, however, is not on reducing Medicare's cost, but on freeing up money to provide help to more seniors. Read more... Opinions on Senior Issues 'The real problem with drug development is not the loudly proclaimed drug safety but the growing shortage of newer, more effective medicines'
June 5, 2006 - More and more Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease either as victims or caregivers. So when a vaccine was developed that may actually reverse this terrible, degenerative process, you would think it would be welcomed and fast-tracked through the federal bureaucracy. Think again. Read more... Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Not in the Best Interest of the Seniors 'after learning the facts, I've lost both my trust and my faith in AARP' Jewel Littenberg - Senior Advocate June 3, 2006 - I found it hard to believe that some of the problems that were generated by the Medicare Prescription Drug plan were not realized at the time our legislators were preparing it. To have created a benefit plan that even PhD's have a hard time figuring out, somehow just didn't make sense. Read more... Guest Opinion Reaping Profits for the Reaper: Body Brokering Grows Fresh body can bring $200,000 sold in parts, no end in sight to need By Norma Sherry April 29, 2006 - Grave robbers are back. Unlike the ghouls of the 1800’s who were caked in mud and slithered about cloaked in the dark of night today’s ghouls wear Armani and Rolex watches and prance about in the hollowed halls of modern day morgues, the finest universities, the best hospitals, and mortuary offices everywhere. Unlike yesterday’s loathsome stealers of bodies nowadays they are more likely the neighborhood mortician or hospital administrator or university professor. Read more... Guest Opinion The Big 'A' - As in Alzheimer's A disease many of us will have to reckon with… By Norma Sherry April 25, 2006 - The Big A. Alzheimer’s Disease. A dreadful looming fear that rears its ugly head every time we walk into the other room and can’t remember why or momentarily can’t recall where we left our car keys, or who the voice is on the other end of the phone. These temporary lapses of memory, thankfully, are not precursors to Alzheimer’s. We’re told they are more likely indicators that we have too much on our minds. Read more... Guest Opinion Veterans Divided Are Easily Conquered on VA Health Care
Feb. 25, 2006 - Generations of Pvt. Ryans have laid their lives on the line for America. They stormed the beaches on D-Day. They marched on frostbitten feet across war-torn Korea. They waded through swamp water in the Mekong Delta, rescued refugees from rooftops, intercepted missiles, flew reconnaissance missions, swabbed decks and removed tyrants from power. They may have earned a place in the Veterans Day parade, but far too many are denied access to VA medical care. Read more... Our Opinion AARP Controversy with Newspaper Emphasizes Its Conflicts The Hill says AARP is softening on imported drugs, favoring Medicare drug plans like they help sell By Tucker Sutherland, editor Jan. 5, 2006 – Has AARP softened its support for imported drugs, because they find drugs are cheaper from the Medicare drug program than from Canada? The Hill, a newspaper "for and about the U.S. Congress," says they have, but AARP has fired back saying The Hill story is a "blatant mischaracterization of AARP's position." It's hard, however, not to question AARP's position when they are one of the major brokers of Medicare insurance programs. Read more... Opinions House Budget Bill Unfairly Punishes Elderly, ElderLawAnswers Warns Leading elder law Website warns that House bill cutting Medicaid would drastically change asset transfer rules, punishing older Americans Nov. 29, 2005 - House and Senate conferees will
soon sit down to reconcile two very different budget bills that cut
billions from the
Guest Opinion Grandparents Can Make the Difference in Child Protection Crisis A grandmother sounds a rally cry for grandparents to take action By Christine Korn There are a growing number of children finding themselves separated from their parents for one reason or another. The Child Protection Services agencies have determined that permanency in a child’s life is vital, and has expedited the process of attempting to rehabilitate a parent who has neglected or harmed his/her child. The current rule is that if the child has spent 15 of the past 22 months in an out of home placement, such as foster care, the states can petition the court to terminate the parental rights and seek adoptive homes for the children. At this point in the process, grandparents may step in and petition the court for custody. Read more... Guest Opinion Is It Armageddon For Customer Service? By Bill Kalmar, retired Aug. 26, 2005 - You see and hear them everyday – signs and commercials heralding that “Customer Service Is #1” or “We Treat You Like Family” or how about “The Customer Is Always Right”. The other day I came across a particularly revealing motto: “We’re Better Than We Used To Be!” Whatever the slogan or motto, as consumers we expect extraordinary customer service and frankly, if you are like me, retired and on a fixed income, you want to experience customer service beyond your expectations and you want those services and products to fit your budget. Read more... Opinion Long-Term Care Spurs Strong Recommendations from White House Conference Group White House Conference on Aging's Long-Term Care Mini-Conference issues final report By Tucker Sutherland, editor Aug. 11, 2005 – Frankly, I was skeptical of any meaningful recommendations coming from the White House Conference on Aging's Long-Term Care Mini-Conference held last April, because many of those who organized and financed it were companies and organizations with a vested interest – particularly in selling insurance for long-term care. The final report was released today and I have to admit I was wrong. It is a frank and strong call for action by government and the private sector in meeting the long-term care crisis in America. Read more... Opinion I'm a Senior By Michael Lipsky
I'm a Senior. Like many, I suppose, I began the journey to senior status gradually. One milestone was the time a kid asked me to throw him a ball that had gotten away from him, and called me "sir." Read more... Editor's Opinion Senate Aging Committee Goes Dark At time when this committee is needed most it is slipping into dysfunction By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com March 4, 2005 – The Senate Aging Committee held a hearing yesterday entitled “Implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act: Delivering Prescription Drugs to Dual Eligibles,” which is one of the controversial parts of the Medicare bill that becomes effective in January. The committee, however, posted no notice for the media about the hearing and the links to testimony do not work today. A video recording is available on the committee’s Website. Read more... Opinion White House Social Security 'fact sheet' is anything but By Robert Weiner, former chief of staff, House Aging Committee Feb. 25, 2005 - Last week's White House fact sheet on Social Security contains anything but the facts. It asserts that by 2027 the government will somehow have to come up with an extra $200 billion a year, and by 2033, more than $300 billion. The "Strengthening Social Security for Future Generations" report goes on to predict that by 2042, "the system will be bankrupt." Read more... Our Opinion Social Security: Senior Citizens Should Sink the Swift Boaters; Throw a Life Preserver to AARP Let's strengthen the system we have now, before considering private accounts By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com Feb. 21, 2005 – The battle over how to reform Social Security is about to get ugly. The Bush team hopes to squash the AARP by using some of the same tactics they used to dispatch John Kerry in the presidential race. The people responsible for the infamous “Swift Boat Veterans” campaign are now gearing up to sink AARP because of their opposition to the Bush plan to take money out of the Social Security program and put it in private investment accounts. Read more... Guest Opinion Social Security: Greater Returns For Whom? By David J. Roberts Jan. 18, 2005 - In the debate over whether we should add personal accounts to Social Security, proponents have long argued that higher returns on investments through personal accounts are needed to save Social Security. But the whole concept of "returns" in a social insurance program like Social Security is deceivingly complex. Read more... Guest Opinion Bush Social Security Proposal Is a Rip-off of Baby Boomers Jan. 17, 2005 - Baby boomers beware! You have contributed more to Social Security than any other generation, but there are those who would rip you off. You have gone that extra mile and prepaid the cost of your own retirement in addition to paying the cost of the generation that has preceded you, but you are being used as scapegoats for the problems facing Social Security. So writes Allen W. Smith in his continuing crusade for Social Security and his books on the topic. More... 1/17/05* Guest Opinion Is the Bush Social Security program just another attempt at clever fraud? By Jewel Littenberg Jan. 12, 2005 - The real battlefield concerning the privatization of Social Security is the minds of the American people. Read More... 1/12/05* Bush is Selling a Trojan Horse, Says Author of 'The Looting of Social Security' Greenspan wrote plan in 1983 that was to save Social Security Dec. 15, 2004 - "President Bush is trying to sell his privatization proposal as a plan to save Social Security, when it is actually a clever scam designed to destroy the program that conservatives have hated since its enactment in 1935," says economist Allen W. Smith, Ph.D., author of the book, "The Looting of Social Security: How the Government is Draining America's Retirement Account." More... 12/15/04* A Call for Senior Citizens to Help Other Seniors Enroll for Drug Discount Cards We must help our fellow seniors enroll for drug discount cards - and enroll ourselves, if we have not By Tucker Sutherland, editor Dec. 9, 2004 – More than five million senior citizens are on the verge of losing $1,200 in free prescription drugs and it is time for senior citizens to take action to help our fellow Medicare beneficiaries. We must contact those we know who are eligible for this low-income credit and help them sign up before the Dec. 31 deadline. If they are not eligible for the low-income credit, help them sign up for a regular drug discount card. More... 12/09/04* Guest Opinion A Warning for Social Security Reformers By Bernard Wasow, senior fellow and economist at The Century Foundation Nov. 17, 2004 - While the administration is preparing its drive to replace part of Social Security with private investment accounts, an obscure government agency is planning to go to Congress to ask for a bail- out. The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), which guarantees private pension plans, just announced that its net liabilities are double earlier estimates, more than $23 billion. More... 11/17/04* Guest Opinion Social Security Investment Accounts Would Be Dangerous For Seniors By David J. Roberts, Associate Professor of Accountancy, DePaul University Nov. 13, 2004 - President Bush has indicated that, in his second term, the creation of personal accounts under Social Security will be a top priority. Proponents of so-called personal accounts (to use the more politically marketable terminology for what is really partial privatization) typically argue that such accounts are needed to save Social Security. But partial privatization would not likely "save" Social Security, and would probably cause serious harm to seniors and long-time participants in the current system. More... 11/13/04* Guest Opinion Must The Elderly Be Driven To Destitution Before The Government Recognizes Their Need For Help? By Jewel Littenberg - Senior Advocate Nov. 5, 2004 - According to a recent report from the Family Caregiver Alliance, the fastest growing population group in the country, most in need of long-term care are the very old... age 85 and older. This age group is expected to reach 8.9 million persons in 2030. Based on these statistics, there's also a good chance that even if you remain fairly disease-free, you will eventually need care. Would you choose remaining in your own home or institutionalized in a nursing home? Read More... 11/05/04* Opinion: Medicare Celebrates 39th Birthday but Not a Happy One By Tucker Sutherland, editor July 30, 2004 – Medicare turned 39 today but the program has to be feeling a lot older as it struggles to convince senior citizens to buy into the new discount drug card program, and it hears the White House announce a record federal deficit with $6 billion in unexpected Medicare-Medicaid expense, plus, a boost in the estimate of Medicare cost over the next five years of $67 billion. More... 7/30/04* Sen. Larry Craig Responds to SeniorJournal.com Criticism of GOP Record on Senior Citizen Issues Defending the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Republican Commitment to America's Seniors By U.S. Senator Larry Craig, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging July 14, 2004 - As I read the recent editorial written by Tucker Sutherland titled, "Opinion: Placing Special Interest Above Senior Consumers -- Senate Aging Committee Continues Republican Assault on Senior Citizens' Rights," I was reminded of something a reporter for the Associated Press was quoted as saying in the mid-1990's. She said that reporters get the news right about 72.3% of the time. It appears that the same percentage is true for some editorials, and I appreciate the opportunity provided by the Senior Journal to set the record straight. More... 7/14/04* Opinion: Placing Special Interest Above Senior Consumers Senate Aging Committee Continues Republican Assault on Senior Citizens' Rights By Tucker Sutherland, editor July 13, 2004 - In another example of the Republican assault on senior citizen consumers, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, controlled by Republican Senator Larry Craig, will hold a hearing on litigation in long-term care facilities without a consumer advocate or eldercare attorney on the witness list. More... 7/13/04* Opinion: National Center for Public Policy Research FDA Helped America's Drug Consumers By Not Banning Authorized Generics July 12, 2004 - For years, generic drug manufacturers have been telling us that making more generic drugs available -- earlier -- is the key to saving consumers money and bringing greater access to prescription drugs. But now generic manufacturers are backpedaling on the issue and, like Goldilocks' selfish search for something to suit her "just right," the generic industry is rejecting the very competition they once told us was the Holy Grail. More... 7/12/04* Senior Slant Medicare Drug Card Sign-up Begins Today, But Seniors Should Wait Before Joining By Tucker Sutherland, editor May 3, 2004 – Beginning today, senior citizens can sign up for a $30 Medicare-approved drug discount card, but there is no reason to be in a hurry. The discounts will not be available until next month and you may not have all the information you need to make the best choice in a card. Last Friday, some of those card sponsors were claiming that prices on drugs for their cards that were posted on Thursday by Medicare are inaccurate. More... 5/3/04* Senior Slant Senior Citizens Must be Cautious in Sharing Information on Web By Tucker Sutherland, editor April 20, 2004 - Fraudulent emails seeking to persuade you to provide the sender with personal financial data that can be used to rob you is increasing dramatically and senior citizens may be considered easy targets. These attacks increased by 43 percent in March – 13 new attacks per day sent to millions of consumers. More... 4/20/04* The Senior Slant High Praise for Website About Civil Rights in America By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com April 1, 2004 - Senior citizens have a greater concept of the civil rights struggle in this country, because we lived through so many of the critical periods. Like me, you probably went to segregated schools, and as a child tried your best and failed to really understand it all. Now there is an excellent Website sponsored by AARP and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) that captures this piece of history effectively and makes good use of the presentation possibilities of the Internet. More... 4/01/04*
Should AARP Have Endorsed the Medicare Drug Bill? By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com Nov. 18, 2003 - The Medicare drug bill, described as the “compromise agreement,” looks like it is better than nothing, but the endorsement of the plan by the AARP is making me take a second look. More... 11/18/03* Is There No Shame in Congress? By Tucker Sutherland, editor Oct. 24, 2003 - You would think the U.S. economy was great and the federal budget was awash with money, the way Congress continues to spend – particularly on themselves It’s almost unbelievable but the Senate gave themselves a pay raise yesterday of 2.2 percent, to over $158,000 a year. Aren’t these the same people who have been complaining about corporate executives getting pay increases when their companies are doing poorly? They also gave most federal workers an increase of 4.1 percent. The Senate voted 60 to 34 to reject a proposal by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) to kill the raise for lawmakers. Feingold noted that the five-year pay increase for Congress of $21,000 is larger than the $17,796 average annual Social Security benefit for a retired married couple… or the $16,068 a full-time worker earns over 18 months at minimum wage. The House had earlier approved the pay raise - on their first day back from summer vacation. Home Share Program is Great Idea By Tucker Sutherland, Editor July 17, 2003 - We received a plea to our “email bag” from Karen in San Francisco, who was seeking an older person in Spain, who would provide her housing in exchange for care services. This concept struck us as a great idea and with a little help we found a Web site that promotes this idea and has a national directory to local Home Share programs. Click 7/17/03* What Does Election Mean for Seniors: Action, Maybe Not What We Want By Tucker Sutherland, editor Nov. 6, 2002 - The Republican capture of government control probably means we will see action on key senior issues but the solutions passed will have a strong private enterprise influence. I say "probably" because the senior vote seems to have lost its influence in Washington. Click 11/06/02* Black Friday for America’s Senior Citizens Small Increase in Social Security, Giant Jump in Medicare Costs By Tucker Sutherland, editor Oct. 18, 2002 – This may be remembered as “Black Friday” for America’s senior citizens. It is a day that clearly signals the financial woes ahead for those heavily dependent on Social Security and Medicare. On this day, the Bush Administration announced the smallest increase in Social Security payments in years and large increases in Medicare costs. Click 10/18/2* “Help on the way for seniors”How Many Times Will News Sources Run the Same Story?It's time for seniors to take action! By Tucker Sutherland, Editor, SeniorJournal.com July 10, 2002 - The Associated Press has filed a story today by David Espo that declares, “The pace is quickening in the Senate on senior citizens' issues, from a new entry in the Medicare prescription drug sweepstakes to fresh election-year emphasis on access to lower-cost generic medicine.” How many times has the AP and other leading news sources filed a similar story over the last three years? Click to rest of story Medicare Helps You Check Out Nursing Homes Online March 15, 2002 - We get many E-mails from readers requesting information on how to find nursing homes for their elderly relatives. Most states offer some type of online assistance in choosing a safe home but we are glad to see the federal government helping, too. This new service by Medicare is named Nursing Home Compare. The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country. To check on any nursing home in the country click here - Nursing Home Compare. Important Information on Nursing Home Compare and other resources, including the Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home, and Nursing Home Checklist are also available from Medicare/Medicaid to help you with your nursing home choice. Crisis In Medicaid Poses Serious Threat To Senior Citizens March 15, 2002 - Social Security and Medicare receive a lot of media coverage related to reforms that can make these programs better and safer. Almost ignored is the most critical crisis facing senior citizens - the economic pressures forcing states to cutback on Medicaid funding, which pays nearly two-thirds of all nursing home and long-term care bills. Click to Story 3/15/2*
Aging
Brain
Offers
Encouragement
Feb. 13,
2002 - There
was
encouraging
news
about
advances
in
the
battle
against
Alzheimer's
and
to
help
people
recover
from
strokes
presented
on
the
PBS
television
show,
"The
Aging
Brain,"
which
aired
Feb.
12.
2002.
This
was
part
five
in
the
PBS
series
"The
Secret
Life
of
the
Brain."
It
is
extremely
well
done
and
appears
to
be
right
on
top
of
the
latest
research.
It
opens
with
some
of
the
work
that
is
being
done
to
restore
body
functions
for
stroke
victims
-
even
years
after
the
damage.
It
had
long
been
assumed
that
recovery
was
impossible,
because
dead
brain
cells
were
gone
forever.
Now,
we
know,
the
brain
has
the
ability
to
rebuild
cells,
even
in
senior
citizen
brains.
It
also
reported
on
real
progress
in
Alzheimer's
research,
including
the
vaccine,
which
has
proven
successful
in
test
rats.
Much
of
the
information
presented
in
this
aging-brain
episode
-
including
some
video
clips
-
can
be
found
on
the
PBS
Web
site.
To
go
directly
to
the
Aging
Brain
information
-
Click
Here.
Drug
Discount
Cards
-
Don't
Get
Excitied!
Jan. 23,
2002 - The
announcement
by
Pfizer
of
their
new
Share
Card
program
that
allows
low-income
seniors
to
get
all
their
prescription
drugs
(as
long
as
Pfizer
makes
them)
for
$15
a
month
(see
link
to
story
at
"Medicare")
has
attracted
new
attention
to
drug
discount
cards
for
senior
citizens.
A
recent
government
study,
however,
says
they
are
not
saving
us
much…
if
anything.
The
General
Accounting
Office
found
that
prices
were
on
average
slightly
lower
for
card
program
users,
but
not
always,
according
to
a
report
by
Reuters
Health.
And
most
of
the
programs
have
enrollment
fees
of
$12
to
$25
a
year.
One
card,
which
appeared
to
provide
users
with
the
lowest
drug
prices,
charged
members
a
basic
fee
of
$11.95
a
month.
``This
report
further
documents
there
are
no
savings
for
seniors,''
said
John
Rector,
general
counsel
for
the
National
Community
Pharmacists
Association
(NCPA).
``It's
smoke
and
mirrors,''
Rector
told
Reuters
Health,
adding
that,
``it's
at
best
a
wash.''
A
spokeswoman
for
the
National
Association
of
Chain
Drug
Stores
(NACDS)
said
the
GAO
results
were
similar
to
its
own
study
conducted
last
year.
The
NACDS
and
NCPA
sued
the
federal
government
to
block
the
Bush
drug
discount
card
plan,
claiming
it
would
illegally
transfer
regulatory
authority
to
private
organizations.
The
groups
also
said
that
pharmacies
would
bear
the
financial
burden
of
the
discounts
while
pharmacy
benefit
management
companies
would
receive
a
boon.
``The
reality
is,
these
programs
shift
people
to
higher-priced
brand
name
drugs
to
benefit
the
pharmacy
benefit
management
companies
that
are
operating
them,
because
they
get
a
rebate,''
said
Larry
Kocot,
NACDS
senior
vice
president
and
general
counsel.
The
agency
surveyed
Merck-Medco
Managed
Care;
Advance
PCS;
Express
Scripts;
Wellpoint
Health;
Citizens
Energy,
a
nonprofit
company
offering
discounts
through
pharmacies
in
Connecticut,
Massachusetts
and
Rhode
Island;
and
a
mail
order
pharmacy.
GAO
sought
prices
for
the
10
most
frequently
prescribed
prescription
drugs
and
the
10
drugs
whose
price
and
use
made
them
the
highest
expenditure
drugs
bought
by
participants
in
a
program
offered
by
AARP.
To
read
the
pdf
version
of
the
GAO
report
-
Click
Here Seniors Turn to Killers Jan. 17, 2002 - Senior citizens are usually thought of as the victims of crimes but this may be changing as increasing numbers are charged with vicious crimes. This is a serious problem that needs the attention of all of us who have elderly family members or friends. As society focuses on how to keep more elderly people living at home, rather than in nursing homes, we will need to increase our vigilance on monitoring their rational thought and behavior. Check these two stories and see if they alert any warning signs.
No Call List Are Important to Seniors
Jan. 10, 2002 - Hurray,
Texas,
where
I
live,
has
just
started
a
"No
Call
List,"
which
will
impose
heavy
fines
on
telemarketers
who
call
you,
if
you
have
signed
up
with
the
state's
"No
Call
List"
program.
Some
states
even
include
E-mail
addresses
that
are
off
limits. About
half
the
states
now
have
programs
and
it
is
senior
citizens
that
are
leading
the
charge
to
add
more
and
strengthen
the
ones
in
place.
Over
90,000
Texans
have
signed
up
since
Jan.
1,
according
to
a
Jan.
10,
2002,
story
in
the
San
Antonio
Express-News
(Click).
This
link
will
take
you
to
a
video
about
the
Texas
program
(Click) The
Texas
Website
is
here
(Click)
and
this
is
the
news
release
on
their
program
(Click) This
is
a
good
summary
of
state
programs
by
the
Direct
Marketing
Association
-
Click.
This
Website
is
devoted
to
pushing
"no
call
lists"
for
each
state.
On
his
site
you
will
find
a
U.S.
map
and
you
can
click
your
state
to
find
your
"no
call
list"
or,
if
none
is
available,
sign
a
petition
to
get
one.
It
may
not
be
totally
up-to-date,
since
it
still
shows
Texas
has
no
program.
Click And,
this
has
created
a
new
business
-
"no
call
list
scrubbing."
Companies
like
Red
Clay
Media
(Click)
will
take
company
customer
list
and
check
them
against
the
"no
call
list"
in
each
state,
to
help
them
avoid
fines
by
the
states. If
your
state
does
not
have
a
program,
call
or
E-mail
your
state
representative
right
now! New Study Says Longer Life Won't Boost Medicare Costs As Much as Predicted, But We Think They're Wrong! By Tucker Sutherland, editor Jan. 6, 2002 - On the eve of the 108th Congress opening, where restructuring of Medicare will be a hot issue, a study released today says it will not cost as much to cover the baby boomers as most people have assumed. They may, however, be making an erroneous assumption. Click 1/6/02* Medicare Users May Get Surprise!
Dec. 12, 2001 - The
news
media
has
been
reporting
that
changes
to
Medicare
and
Social
Security
have
been
pushed
aside
by
the
Sept.
11
crisis.
But,
very
important
things
are
happening
in
both
programs
and
they
are
not
receiving
the
media
attention
seniors
need. Julie
Rovner
of
National
Public
Radio
is
the
exception.
She
has
been
particularly
focused
on
the
changes
in
Medicare,
which
may
come
as
a
shock
to
many. Medicare
beneficiaries
in
December
usually
choose
how
they
will
get
their
health
care
the
next
year.
They
can
stay
in
the
traditional,
government-run
program,
or
opt
for
a
private
plan,
like
an
HMO.
Until
now,
making
the
wrong
choice
was
no
big
deal.
Unlike
most
of
those
in
the
working
world,
Medicare
beneficiaries
could
switch
plans
every
month,
but,
that's
about
to
end.
About
6
million
Medicare
beneficiaries
get
their
care
from
private
health
plans,
mostly
HMOs.
Those
who
get
use
private
health
plans,
like
HMOs,
will
be
the
most
affected
by
a
new
rule
known
as
"lock-in."
Next
year,
beneficiaries
will
be
allowed
to
change
plans
only
once
between
January
and
the
end
of
June.
After
that,
they
won't
be
able
to
change
again
until
January
2003. • Click her to Julie's coverage on NPR 12/12/01*** Tito
Space
Flight
Helps
Fight
Prejudice
Towards
Seniors
By
Tucker
Sutherland,
Editor,
Senior
Journal May 10, 2001 - Regular readers of the Senior Journal know we have given considerable coverage to the space flight of 60-year-young Dennis Tito. His feat is important to senior citizens, because it helps to erase a stigma associated with older people. click for more 5/1/01 Seniors Benefit on Key Issues Due to Jeffords Rebuff of GOPBy
Tucker
Sutherland,
editor May 25, 2001 - The departure of Sen. Jim Jeffords, - 67-years-young - from the GOP will have important repercussions for his fellow senior citizens, when the Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate in June. His decision is favorable on these senior issues. click to editorial Is Bush Raiding Social Security, Medicare? Click for Our Opinion 8/22/01 Guest
Opinion
by
U.S.
Sen.
Larry
Craig,
Ranking
Member,
U.S.
Senate
Special
Committee
on
Aging The
"Do-Nothing-Plan"
only
offers
benefit
cuts
and
increasing
poverty
rates
for
the
elderly > Suddenly Senior's Author, Frank Kaiser, Takes After Politicians on Social Security Here's why one guy thinks the politicians don't really pay attention to Social Security. Click for Column > Health Care Needs Overhaul 11/30/00* He knows things can go wrong because he is a hospital insider. He runs Kaiser Permanente, the largest nonprofit health plan in the United States. He is also a physician and serves on the Institute of Medicine committee that is studying how medical errors occur in the nation's hospitals. > More Heart Defibrillators Needed 10/28/00* Each day nearly 1,000 Americans suffer from sudden cardiac arrest -- usually away from a hospital. More than 95 percent of them die, in many cases, because life-saving defibrillators arrive on the scene too late, if at all. > Senior Journal Looks at VP Debates 10/6/00* Our impressions on debates and links to analysis by others. > Gore Has Best Position on Important Issues: Gallup Analysis 9/19/00 Given a choice, Americans continue to be slightly more likely to choose issues rather than leadership skills as the most important determinant of their choice for president this year, and Al Gore now is favored by Americans over George W. Bush on almost all issues tested in recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup polling. > Privatizing Social Security Not Worth the Risk 8/24/00 The GSA study urges policymakers and reformers to be cautious about trading the system's basic insurance protections for a risky, insecure privatized system, adding, "the rewards of privatization are questionable and probably not a good deal for most women." > We Must Find Answers to Dementia Violence (Senior Journal Opinion) 8/21/00* Increasing numbers of violent crimes are being committed by seniors with no history of such behavior. > You Must Exercise (Senior Journal Opinion) 7/26/00* Exercising your brain and your body will improve your mind - maybe help you escape Alzheimer's - and escape many physical problems associated with aging. > Disparity in Drug Prices Must End 7/26/00 If the heartburn drug Prilosec sells for 99 cents a pill in Mexico and $1.47 in Canada, why, Americans want to know, must they pay $3.31 for a single capsule? - Toledo (O) Blade > Washington Post Editorial on "Social Security Maze" 7/03/00 Neither the Clinton-Gore nor the Bush proposal provides a comprehensive answer to the long-range Social Security problem. > Why We Need A Medicare Drug Plan 6/26/00* A California Congressional Candidate Speaks Out. Seniors Will Get Drug Coverage - and More! 5/12/00* (Click Here for AARP Statement) > Need for Seniors in Workforce (Opinion) 3/30/00 > Seniors "Not Cheap Labor" - Opinion 3/20/00
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Dec. 7, 2007 – Just like Thanksgiving comes every
November, the battle over Medicare cutting the pay of doctors comes
every December. Once again, Medicare has announced a big pay cut, the
physicians and their lobby are pouring money into the political
stockings
held by the Washington politicians, and, alas, once again the pay cut
will be avoided. This year, however, the stakes appear a little larger,
battle lines are more skewed and it is harder to predict how the
politicians will make it happen.
By Karen Davis, President,
Commonwealth Fund
By
The Center for Medicare Advocacy
By Robert Goldberg
By
Thomas L. Bock
April
20, 2005 - There's no denying it any longer. This month I'll be 65. I've
enrolled in Medicare. I'll apply shortly for Social Security. 
Gonzales
TX
-
With
jurors
barely
settled
into
their
padded
oak
courtroom
chairs,
Charlie
Bell
pleaded
guilty
Wednesday
to
murdering
an
old
nemesis
at
the
Smiley
One
Stop
Café
some
15
months
ago.
A
frail
and
pale
old
man
using
a
walker,
Bell,
80,
is
asking
to
be
spared
any
prison
time.