shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Yes, I am preachy. Yes, health care costs have skyrocketed. Yes, Medicare premiums have doubled since 2001. Yes, you need to sign the petition. And yes, you need to check out the new ads for Keep Medicare Fair.

This one is courtesy of my colleague Lindsay Thomson:

Recently we mentioned research that links red wine with a longer life span. The mayor of Lo Prado, Chile took the lifestyle approach to managing your wellbeing one step further: the town is giving free Viagra to eligible citizens 60+ on the premise that "an active sexuality improves the overall quality of life.” It’s an idea, that’s for sure … what do you think?

CNN: Analyst Says Candidates' Health Care Plans Lack Sufficient Detail

"Reducing health care costs -- and insuring the 47 million Americans who have no coverage -- is the Rubik's Cube of policy puzzles. And it's one that the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates say they can solve." One expert said that "McCain's plan may drive up insurance costs for older or sicker workers because the credit could encourage younger, healthier workers to look for cheaper plans outside of their company." Another analyst said that companies "may balk at the cost of the mandates under the Clinton and Obama plans and hire fewer workers or pay lower wages to compensate." Ultimately, though, "Policy experts say the candidates have not yet provided enough details of their plans to adequately assess their true cost, savings or effectiveness."

US News And World Report: Medical Tourism Grows Increasingly Popular In Face Of High Health Care Costs

"Thousands of Americans -- estimates range from an ultraconservative 5,000 to 500,000 annually if minor procedures are counted" are leaving the US "for surgery when they have to come up with funds themselves. They may be self-employed or work for a small business and lack health insurance, for example, or their procedure may not be covered. More than 1 in 4 workers earning at least $60,000 a year went without insurance in 2006, according to a Census Bureau survey; too well-off to be eligible for medical assistance, they can often wring tens of thousands of dollars out of hospital 'rack rates' by going abroad. Some employers and big insurers like UnitedHealth and Blue Cross and Blue Shield are so intrigued by 'medical tourism' that they're beginning to sniff for signs that it might be smart to cover it."

MarketWatch: Fraudsters Target Stimulus Rebate

Andrea Coombes writes, "Debate is swirling as to whether the fiscal-stimulus payments headed to taxpayers will recharge the economy, but there's no question they're stimulating plenty of scammers' frauds, and at least one company's marketing pitches." Fraudsters "tell consumers the information is necessary if they want to get their stimulus payment processed. The data collected is then used to commit identity theft." The IRS has issue warnings over one "telephone scam, the caller says the IRS sent a check to the consumer, and the IRS now needs to verify the taxpayer's bank account number. The tax agency does not ask consumers for bank account information, other than on tax returns' 'direct deposit' section."

Recently on ShAARP Session we wrote about the Keep Medicare Fair Campaign. We've had a tremendous response - 200,000 180,000 plus petitions signed and counting. But this isn't just about the numbers, so I thought I'd share with you one of the personal stories we've received.

"I am 70 years old and live on a fixed income of approximately $24,000 a year. I pay just under $2,000 for Medicare and a supplementary insurance plan plus an additional $400-500 for prescription medications. This year, my supplemental insurer has increased the co-payments for medications and deductibles, so my basic cost in the coming year will increase to over $3000. And this is for basic well-care. I worry constantly that I will not be able to afford treatment if I should become seriously ill."

- M.T.

She's not alone in her fears. Hers is just one of many heart wrenching stories - people are suffering because of higher premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. We need to do all that we can to make sure that their voices are being heard. Congress is expected to act on the matter very soon. So what are you waiting for - go sign the petition already!

AP: Housing Bill Advances Through Committee

Democrats "turned back a slew of Republican challenges to their housing rescue package Wednesday as they moved toward committee approval of the plan." Rep. J. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) amendment to allow the FHA to "reject a borrower solely based on a bad credit score or history of delinquency was rejected 36-33." The bill "is picking up support among some Republicans from areas hardest-hit by the mortgage meltdown, but most Republicans side with the Bush administration, which calls it an overly risky bailout." The Financial Services Committee also voted down a proposal by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) that "would have allowed mortgage holders to potentially recover some or all of their losses, rather than letting the FHA share a portion of the proceeds should a homeowner sell or refinance." Republicans also "failed in their attempts to add penalties on lenders if borrowers default on their refinanced loans - an attempt to discourage mortgage holders from unloading their worst-performing loans on the federal government."

USA Today: Pool Of Younger Workers Diminishing, Tightening Labor Force

"The number of Americans ages 25 to 44 has dropped 1.5% since 2000, shrinking the pool of young workers in some states despite a 7% increase in the country's overall population, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Census data to be released today." Immigration "has not been enough to offset the aging of the nation's 79 million baby boomers, which has depleted the ranks of young workers." The drop is "most obvious in the Northeast and Midwest, where most of the 20 states that registered declines of 5% or more in the 25-44 age group are located." But "big gains in the 25-44 age group occurred in fast-growing states in the South and Mountain West, where families and young singles can find jobs and affordable housing."

CNN/Money: Proper Diversification Seen As Necessary For Retirement Savings

Profiling one couple, Money writes, "Currently, nearly half of the $200,000 the Reeses have saved sits in a money-market fund earning a mere 3.1%. And it's not just because of the current market. The fact is, Brad and Mindy haven't been comfortable taking investment risk." Financial planner Robert Bolen "recommends that the Reeses put at least 70% of their money in stocks (with the remainder going into bonds). If Brad and Mindy can stomach it, they could increase that to 85%, Bolen says. But the couple might not be emotionally prepared for that much exposure, especially in a choppy market."

Today, the LA Times reported that the price of health insurance for people who get coverage through work jumped 30 percent between 2001 and 2005. Thirty percent. And wages were up just 3 percent. While we might want to beat up on insurance companies, there’s a much bigger problem. The cost of health care is out of control. I’ve blogged about how the increases in the cost of health care pales in comparison to the increase in the cost of living. And who pays for it? You and me.

An update from Virginia AARP's Bill Ballas:

Last week, I attended the annual Virginia21 award soiree at George Mason University's Johnson Center. The event was to fete Virginia21's outstanding chapter for the past year which, not coincidentally, belonged to George Mason University. A highlight of the evening was a conversation between best friends and MOC colleagues, Tom Davis (R) and Jim Moran (D) -- both of whom signed the Divided We Fail (DWF) pledge.

Festivities began with a cocktail party where Kelly Porrell and Stephen Jones, Virginia21's Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director, respectively, introduced us to representatives from their chapters across the commonwealth. (A special shout-out goes to Carl and Chelsea from Old Dominion University who were exceptionally bright and eager to get started with DWF. Kelly mentioned that their members want to conduct a YouTube contest where they will create videos explaining why they should be selected to wear the Champ costume at an upcoming event. )

After dinner, Representatives Davis (who is retiring) and Moran took the stage and answered questions by the moderator, a very distinguished political science professor whose name now escapes me! The very first question he asked was why they endorsed Divided We Fail. Their answers were not surprising so much as revealing; both officials shared their insights on how the topics of social security and healthcare reform are essential -- not just from a cost perspective, but as a moral imperative. Mr. Davis and Mr. Moran clearly and painstakingly cited case after case where petty partisan bickering had brought the country to a standstill and with partisanship guiding redistricting, that voters don't choose their elected officials so much as politicians choose their voters. They recalled the dozens of times that they had worked together across the aisle to help one another and their colleagues get things done. At the close of their conversation, I thought to myself, "These guys are a great team. They reminded everyone that elected officials represent everyone in their districts -- those who voted for them and those who didn't."

UPI:
Survey Finds Boomers Want Specialized Health Care

Eighty-eight percent of baby boomers say it's important to have physicians with specialized training geared toward older patients," according to a Zogby survey. But the survey also found that "most boomers say they can't find such a doctor and 26 percent of women say they believe their health may have suffered because their physician did not have such expertise." The study also found that "50 percent of consumers age 55 and older feel they are the ones most able to improve the quality of their care beyond its current level."

USA Today: Real Estate Market Troubles Trend Towards Increasing Troubles

"The most severe real estate recession in decades appears far from over, with the pace of foreclosures rising, the fall in home prices accelerating and the pain spreading to nearly every major U.S. city." According to RealtyTrac, "the number of homes entering foreclosure jumped more than 100% in the first three months of the year compared with the same quarter in 2007, with one in every 194 homes receiving a foreclosure filing." These "foreclosed homes for sale will likely put further pressure on prices. That's because banks that own those homes must slash prices, forcing home sellers to compete and squeezing sellers who already owe more than their homes are worth."

AP: New Wellness Index Links Income To Wellness

"Staying healthy and happy is a struggle for about half of Americans, according to a massive survey that attempts to measure the nation's general welfare, much like the Dow Jones Industrial Average portrays the health of the stock mark." The "well-being index" which is run by Gallup-Healthways and based on interviews of over 100,000 individuals, "shows that 47 percent of Americans are struggling and 4 percent are suffering." Reacting to the data, Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "noted that the United States invests more on health care than any country, but that its health care system ranks 37th," saying that by that measure it "doesn't sound like we're getting the best value from the investment we're making...That fundamentally is something we as a nation are waking up to."

Health care is the theme of the week. Probably one reason is that it is Cover the Uninsured Week. Now why are people uninsured? Lots of reasons – don’t think they need it, don’t think they have access to it, but most important is they can’t afford it.

On the campaign trail, there has been some discussion of the key issue here – the skyrocketing cost of health care. Senator John McCain spoke about it both yesterday and today, emphasizing the role of personal responsibility in health care. No one can dispute the importance of this. In fact, every candidate has a nod to better behaviors (eating less junk, exercising more) in their plans. It’s all good.

But where is this in the national media? Almost nowhere! Instead of the substance focused on the things that impact people’s everyday lives, we are left to tune into the bickering and melodrama that has seemed to envelop the spin cycle. Elizabeth Edwards wrote about it for the New York Times on Sunday, but today we’re still seeing the same old thing play out. Who isn’t sick of it?

From the Huffington Post: Can you believe this? “Harry Lee Hawk” McGinnis is 80 years old and in the process of walking across the world. He walked through the US in the 1980s and then in the early 90s, he began his quest around the world. Currently in Panama City, you can track the Hawk on his website. If this isn’t a testament to the importance of staying active, I am not sure what is.

Bloomberg News: Proportion Of Vacant Homes Reaches Record Levels

A "record" 18.6 million U.S. homes "stood empty in the first quarter as lenders took possession of a growing number of properties in foreclosure." And the Census Bureau says the new number "is 5.7 percent higher than a year ago, when 17.6 million properties were vacant."

AP: Security Breaches At Credit Card Companies Suggest More Security Is Needed

"While some of the biggest and most spectacular privacy breaches in recent years have happened at large corporations, state governments have also mishandled or failed to protect some of the sensitive information entrusted to them - data that identity thieves would love to get their hands on." But "most states don't have statewide privacy officers in charge of safeguarding data, statewide policies on protecting sensitive material, or standing procedures for responding to breaches."

MarketWatch: Despite Bad Press Annuity Sales Continue To Increase

Paul Farrell writes, "The press loves trashing annuities, year after year after year. But what's really striking is how the critics are still hammering away at the same old problems, suggesting that all the bad press, criticisms, lawsuits and piñata whackings have had little effect on changing the annuity industry's bad behavior." While "there really are honest annuity companies and brokers out there. And annuities do work for many investors." But 'annuities have countless, hidden flaws that all too often remain undisclosed until it's too late: excessive commissions, lower returns, payout delays, surrender fees and long lock-ins." With commissions "as high as 14%," the annuities industry "attracts aggressive hustlers with questionable ethics preying on vulnerable customers, especially the elderly, a pattern that gives the rest of the industry a bad name."

Here's an update from Florida AARP's Carmel Perez Snyder:

The Champmobile, a boat, big fish and a high-flying dog, all helped Divided We Fail Florida take Charlotte County by land, sea and air this weekend. The CM was a hot bed of activity at the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Tournament in Punta Gorda, FL as energetic volunteers played games with kids and helped them color Champ in the newly created Champ Activity Book for kids. While the kids were busy, volunteers talked to parents about Divided We Fail. Others were inside the Champmobile sending emails to candidates or surfing the DWF Web site.

Across the way by the water, DWF volunteers Sam Reams and Chris Folsom battled with some sea-savvy 11-year-olds in the cardboard boat races. The heated battle was captured by the local paper photographer and landed Chris and Sam and the AARP Divided We Fail boat on the front page, above the fold.

DWF also had an entry in the international splash-dog contest. "Alex," a beautiful yellow lab turned out to be a contender for the title in the high-flying competition, leading with a jump of 21 feet five inches. In between his competitions, Alex cooled down by wearing a DWF T-shirt.

Next stop? The Champmobile is on the road this week with two more stops in Port Charlotte today and Tuesday. Then up Interstate 275 to Lakeland for a downtown community event. On May 3, the Champmobile will be in Mascotte, Florida for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

US News And World Report: AARP Report Finds Working Women Will Fare Better In Retirement

"Employment, health, and marital status are the critical factors that influence whether older women will become or stay poor during their retirement years, according to AARP. Divorce, widowhood, or never having married typically reduce women's retirement nest egg." However, a new report "by AARP found that baby boomers and younger generations of women who rely on their own earnings and retirement plans rather than a spouse's will fare better in retirement than the current crop of elderly women." Brandon notes that "younger people are also less likely than their elders to have defined-benefit pension plans that guarantee income for life."

USA Today: New Public Health Analysis Shows Startling Life Expectancy Data

"Throughout the 20th century, it was an American birthright that each generation would live longer than the last," new research "shows that those reassuring nationwide gains mask a darker and more complex reality," namely, that "there are widening gaps in life expectancy based on the interwoven variables of income, race, sex, education and geography." Most "startling," the essay argues, is the report that "life expectancy actually declined in a substantial number of counties from 1983 to 1999, particularly for women." One of the report's authors, Majid Ezzati of the Harvard School of Public Health, noted that "few industrialized countries have had declines of comparable duration," which begs the question: "Is the fact that the bottom 20 percent is not getting better, and may be worse off, going to drive the health of the whole country?"

Bloomberg News: U.S. Consumer Confidence Hits 26 Year Low

Consumers "are growing increasingly anxious because the economy has lost almost a quarter million jobs so far this year, gasoline is up 17 percent and property values have fallen. Sales of houses and cars have declined as a result, contributing to a slowdown that may bring an end to the six-year expansion."