News RoundupsUSA Today: Early retirees try to fill gap in health coverage Some early retirees who lack employer coverage “are just hanging on until they’re eligible for Medicare,” says David Certner, director of federal affairs for AARP. “Either they can’t afford (health insurance), or they can’t get it. They’re hoping nothing happens before they hit age 65.” About 16% of individuals 50 to 64 are uninsured, AARP says. The Street: Just Put It on My 401(k) Debit Card Critics contend use …

News RoundupsUSA Today: Boomers’ eagerness to retire could cost them David Certner, director of federal affairs for AARP, doesn’t think that retiring boomers will suffer cuts in benefits, either. “We think Social Security benefits, particularly for those at or near retirement, are well-financed and will be there,” he says. BusinessWeek: Starting a Business Instead of Retiring About 20% of the entire over-50 workforce in the U.S. is self-employed, and one-third of those workers made the transition to self-employment after turning 50, …

News RoundupsForbes: Health Care’s Champions Of Change First, in November, it joined forces with some unlikely allies–unions and big business–to rally for reform. Divided We Fail, brainchild of the AARP, also counts in its coalition the Service Employees Union, the nation’s largest union, with 1.8 million members, and the Business Roundtable, a big-business lobbying group. Variety: Representatives divided on digital Among the panelists speaking in the afternoon, only Debra Berlyn, a consultant for the American Assn. for Retired People, concurred with …

News RoundupsBaltimore Sun: A wide-open race brings out the voters The concerns of young voters don’t appear to be vastly different from those of older ones, exit polls show. And older voters also cast ballots in Iowa and New Hampshire in record numbers, said Mark Kitchens, an AARP spokesman. “All Americans want change, regardless of age,” Kitchens said. Washington Post: The Gift of Tax Assistance The AARP also provides free tax preparation to low- and middle-income taxpayers with special attention to …

News RoundupsNewsday: Editorial: Health care costs hurt retiree insurance Of course, the real problem is the rapid rise in the cost of medical care. Unless the nation finds some way to arrest runaway costs, coverage for retirees and employees alike will continue to deteriorate. Motley Fool: Ease Into Retirement Organizations like AARP have created lists of the best employers for older workers, which include companies like First Horizon (NYSE: FHN), Principal Financial (NYSE: PFG), and John Deere (NYSE: DE). Wall Street …

News RoundupsBoston Globe: Do adjust your set Jim Dau, a spokesman for AARP, said monitoring the changeover will be a priority for his group this year. “Many of our members are more dependent on their televisions to keep them connected to their communities,” said Dau. “Americans age 50 and above watch the greatest amount of television, almost 5 1/2 hours a day.” Chicago Tribune: Fresh opportunities for older workers “People are not saying take this job and shove it,” said Bob …