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A recent report by the influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) — the independent agency that advises Congress on Medicare policy — finds that Medicare pays 20 percent more per enrollee in a private Medicare Advantage (MA) plan than it would if that same individual was instead…
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 includes many provisions designed to address high prescription drug prices and related out-of-pocket costs. One of the most notable changes allows Medicare to negotiate the prices of certain high-cost prescription drugs, which is expected to save Medicare…
This week the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Braidwood v. Kennedy, a case challenging the requirement for private health insurers to cover certain recommended preventive health services with no cost-sharing. AARP previously examined the implications of the case, finding that more than…
I live in Fairfax County, Va., where the population is extremely diverse and aging. This county is a large suburb of Washington, D.C. More than 1 out of every 4 county residents 70 years or older speak a language other than English at home. Of those speaking another language, 1 out of 6 do not…
A recent study linked some popular drugs used to treat heartburn and peptic ulcers to an increased risk of dementia. While the study findings are concerning, consumers should be mindful that media reports do not necessarily present the full picture. Here is a breakdown of what the study actually…
The federal government recently released its first preliminary report evaluating its Financial Alignment Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to increase access to high-quality, well-coordinated health care — including long-term services and supports (LTSS) — for low-income adults who are…
From 2010 to 2060, the age 85-plus population will more than triple (+260%), the fastest growth of any age group over that time period.
Over the past five years, taxpayers have doled out over $30 billion in bonus payments to push hospitals and doctors’ offices to switch from paper to electronic medical records. Now nearly all hospitals and over half of all office-based doctors have gone digital; but much of that electronic…
There is little dispute that the cost of long-term services and supports (LTSS) is daunting. The typical cost for care in a nursing home is about $91,250 a year, and the average annual base price for assisted living is $43,200. Few people can accumulate sufficient savings, even over a lifetime , to…
Internet-connected devices are rapidly becoming commonplace in our daily lives. Smartphones, tablets, televisions, thermostats, cars, video games and even children’s toys now connect to the Internet.
Introduction to Shingles
Nearly 8 percent of adults age 65 and older are food insecure, meaning they do not always have balanced meals or enough to eat because they cannot afford it. However, there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in food insecurity among older adults. Black and Hispanic seniors are over three…
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) gives consumers the right to access their medical information. But many people still have to jump through hoops to get their medical records from reluctant health care providers.
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