By Mary Agnes Carey Raising Medicare’s eligibility age by two years would save the federal government $7.6 billion but those costs —and more — would shift to others, according to a report out March 29. The analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation says that increases in total costs for people 65- and 66-year-olds, employers and […]

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Long-term care is expensive, and Medicare does not cover the costs. And there are other reasons to plan ahead, to learn about your options for care before you need help. That way, if you need care suddenly, you and your family won’t have to scramble. Equally important, you won’t end up in a nursing home […]

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By Deborah E. Banda At the end of January, we were gearing up for a major battle on Beacon Hill. Gov. Patrick was readying the release of his 2012 state budget proposal. With a projected $1.8 billion shortfall, we worried how services for vulnerable seniors would be impacted, especially since they are already operating at […]

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The new law does not cut Medicare’s guaranteed benefits; it improves them. Before the law was passed, those with Medicare prescription drug coverage faced a growing gap (the “doughnut hole”) that left them vulnerable to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket drug costs. This year, people in the doughnut hole received a $250 rebate toward the […]

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For seniors, a group that takes voting seriously, Obama’s health care overhaul legislation was a driving issue. Fifty-three percent said the measure should be repealed — and almost all of this group backed Republican House candidates on Election Day. Among all voters who are younger, 46 percent want the law revoked.

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At least two plans covering some brand-name drugs in the gap will be available in every region of the country. Overall, one-third of plans will offer gap coverage, up from one-fifth this year. Some only provide generics.

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