Seniors News and Research

RSS

Illinois AARP members support health care reform plan

A new poll of Illinois AARP members released today finds strong support across party and ideological lines for elements of health care reform included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives.

17 Nov 2009

Studies reveal link between parental monitoring and decreased marijuana usage in adolescents

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug by adolescents, with almost 42% of high school seniors admitting to having experimented with it. Continued marijuana use may result in a number of serious consequences including depression, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, and certain forms of cancer.

17 Nov 2009

MobileHelp allows protected individuals to summon help from anywhere

MobileHelp, America’s premier medical alert system that integrates cellular and GPS technology, allows protected individuals anywhere in the nation to summon help while inside and beyond the home. MobileHelp provides a technology platform that allows families and caregivers to always be in the loop, enabling them to locate loved ones real-time via the Web.

17 Nov 2009

CMS report: House bill will raise health care costs, affect seniors' benefits

A new report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finds that the health overhaul bill passed by the House will raise health costs by approximately $289 billion in the next ten years. The report was requested by House Republicans and compiled by CMS' chief actuary, Richard Foster.

16 Nov 2009

Both sides puzzle over abortion amendment in House health bill

Newspapers continue to report on the Stupak amendment to the House health bill and how it will affect access to abortion.

16 Nov 2009

Discounted STD testing for seniors and students

LocalSTDtesting.com, the recognized leader in confidential STD testing services, has announced that they will now be offering a discounted rate for STD testing for seniors and students.

16 Nov 2009

AMA calls for swift passage of the H.R. 3961

Urging swift passage of a bill to repeal the broken Medicare physician payment formula that threatens seniors' access to care, the AMA added a new dimension to its Medicare campaign today with radio ads airing in markets across the nation. In addition to the ads, the AMA is activating its nationwide grassroots network of patients and physicians and intensifying communication to physicians through online and social media.

16 Nov 2009

Medicare open enrollment starts Sunday, premiums will rise 11 percent on average

U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News reports that seniors who participate in Medicare Part D's will likely notice significant changes during this year's open enrollment period, which begins Nov. 15. "Monthly premiums will rise 11 percent to $38.94, on average, according to an analysis published by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. That's up 50 percent from 2006, the first year that Medicare Part D drug benefits were offered."

16 Nov 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Unless you find more realistic ways of paying for the promises included in the bill, you are simply setting up the public for more frustration -- and yourselves for a political backlash (David Broder, 11/13).

13 Nov 2009

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

The nation’s leading health insurers saw an aggregate decline of 836,000 members for the first six months of 2009. Declining commercial enrollment was offset primarily by gains in products offered to seniors and growth in Medicaid business. Administrative Services Only (ASO) enrollment experienced its first quarterly decline since June 2007.

13 Nov 2009

Health Insurer tells its employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits

The nation's largest health insurance company, United Healthcare, launched a new push this week to get employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits. The new campaign, in an e-mail sent to all employees Nov. 10, offers employees template letters to send from company computers on company time and urges them to write grassroots-style letters to the editor to local newspapers. Consumer Watchdog, which obtained the letters, called on the Senate and newspapers to reject this deceptive corporate-directed campaign.

13 Nov 2009

People in their 60s may have more disabilities than their counterparts from prior generations

In a development that could have significant ramifications for the nation's health care system, Baby Boomers may well be entering their 60s suffering far more disabilities than their counterparts did in previous generations, according to a new UCLA study. The findings, researchers say, may be due in part to changing American demographics.

13 Nov 2009

Medicare Part D program exceeds expectations, majority of seniors approve their plan and coverage

Almost four years after the Medicare Part D prescription drug program went into effect, an overwhelming majority (88 percent) of America's seniors approve of their individual plan and coverage. In a national survey released this morning by the nonpartisan Medicare Today Coalition, 95 percent of seniors who used their plan and received prescriptions over the past year also reported that their plan has worked well, while 85 percent continue to find their monthly premium to be affordable.

13 Nov 2009

Idaho's U.S. Representatives oppose HR 3962: AARP disappointed

AARP is disappointed Idaho's U.S. Representatives chose to oppose the legislation, ignoring the worsening health care crisis in their home state.

13 Nov 2009

Health-related and psychosocial characteristics are associated with elder self-neglect

Seniors who neglect themselves, risking their own health and safety, tend to be individuals with limited social networks and little social engagement, according to a study by Rush University Medical Center.

13 Nov 2009

Humana CEO: No no regrets about sending warning letters to Medicare customers

Humana's CEO says he does not regret sending Medicare customers a letter warning that health care reform could hurt their benefits. The letters caused government officials to probe whether the insurer violated federal regulations in September.

12 Nov 2009

AARP leader provides powerful voice for seniors and health care

John Rother tries to dispel myths and quell fears that seniors may have about health care reform as a leader at the powerful lobby and senior group AARP.

12 Nov 2009

54% of Americans are inconsistent in taking prescriptions, reveals survey

A new survey finds that 54 percent of Americans say they do not consistently take prescriptions as instructed even though 87 percent believe prescription medicines are important to their health – pointing to a growing public health problem.

12 Nov 2009

Health care legislation not fair to Hispanic small businesses and families

A number of Hispanic organizations have united to address major problems with the health care legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and urge the Senate to come up with a bipartisan solution for real healthcare reform. They are especially concerned the health care legislation will create a greater tax burden and unfair government mandates on Hispanic small businesses and families. During this critical health care debate, these organizations want their voices to be heard and believe that the current approach will lead to loss of jobs and reduced wages for Hispanic workers.

12 Nov 2009

Medicare Advantage plans are largely unpopular in rural states

Kansas Health Institute examines Medicare Advantage plans, which are less popular in rural areas, in a series of reports.

11 Nov 2009

Seniors News and Research

Illinois AARP members support health care reform plan

Studies reveal link between parental monitoring and decreased marijuana usage in adolescents

MobileHelp allows protected individuals to summon help from anywhere

CMS report: House bill will raise health care costs, affect seniors' benefits

Both sides puzzle over abortion amendment in House health bill

Discounted STD testing for seniors and students

AMA calls for swift passage of the H.R. 3961

Medicare open enrollment starts Sunday, premiums will rise 11 percent on average

Today's opinions and editorials

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

Health Insurer tells its employees to directly lobby U.S. Senators for weaker health reform and higher insurer profits

People in their 60s may have more disabilities than their counterparts from prior generations

Medicare Part D program exceeds expectations, majority of seniors approve their plan and coverage

Idaho's U.S. Representatives oppose HR 3962: AARP disappointed

Health-related and psychosocial characteristics are associated with elder self-neglect

Humana CEO: No no regrets about sending warning letters to Medicare customers

AARP leader provides powerful voice for seniors and health care

54% of Americans are inconsistent in taking prescriptions, reveals survey

Health care legislation not fair to Hispanic small businesses and families

Medicare Advantage plans are largely unpopular in rural states

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

Latest News