By Phil Galewitz; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 30, 2015

The federal government needs to increase its oversight over private Medicare health plans to make sure seniors have adequate access to doctors and hospitals, according to a report released this week by congressional auditors.

The General Accountability Office study found the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers Medicare Advantage plans, primarily relies on complaints from consumers to determine if they are having trouble getting appointments with providers.

By Dan Caplinger, TMF; USA TODAY ~ Sep 26, 2015

Social Security is one of the most important government programs for Americans, with tens of millions of retirees collecting benefits after the end of their careers. More than half of married couples and almost three-quarters of single retirees get the majority of their income from Social Security, and Social Security makes up 90% or more of the total money coming in for nearly half of unmarried retirees .

By Linda A. Johnson, Associated Press – Sept 25, 2015

Sticker-shocked patients increasingly wonder why prices for prescription drugs continue to rise in the US.

The issue heated up this week with the news that Turing Pharmaceuticals raised the price of Daraprim, the only approved treatment for a rare, life-threatening parasitic infection, by more than 5,000% to $750 a pill.

Medical groups blasted the increase, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called it “price gouging.” Turing’s CEO, former hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli, later said he’d make “a serious price adjustment.”

By Ashlea Ebeling; Forbes ~ Sep 25, 2015

Think Medicare will cover you when it comes to all your health-related expenses in retirement? Not even close. Sure Medicare is the cornerstone of coverage, but it covers approximately 60% of health care expenses, and it does not cover long-term care expenses. That leaves retirees with major health care expenses (medical, dental, vision, prescription) and possibly long-term care expenses (home health care services or assisted living or nursing care) coming out of their retirement nest egg.

By Linda A. Johnson; The Associated Press ~ Sep 25, 2015

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Sticker-shocked patients increasingly wonder why prices for prescription drugs continue to rise in the U.S.

The issue heated up this week on news that Turing Pharmaceuticals raised the price of Daraprim, the only approved treatment for a rare, life-threatening parasitic infection, by more than 5,000 percent to $750 a pill.

By Stephen Feller; United Press International ~ Sep 22, 2015

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) — Most people will experience at least one incorrect medical diagnosis in their lifetime, resulting in negative health outcomes, psychological distress and financial cost, according to a new government report.

Researchers at the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, said in the congressionally mandated report that medical diagnosis is a complex process that requires greater transparency in order to improve.

The Associated Press ~ Sep 22, 2015

The Institute of Medicine says patient input is critical as health providers try to figure out the right diagnosis. Here are tips from the IOM’s report Tuesday, adapted from the National Patient Safety Foundation and the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine:

By Jay Hancock; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 22, 2015

Premiums for job-based medical insurance rose moderately — 4 percent in 2015 — but employers continued to shift in expenses to workers, according to a new survey.

The average premium for single coverage rose to $6,251 while the average premium for a family plan increased to $17,545, according to a survey published Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ Sep 22, 2015

A typical American turning 65 this year is in line to receive about $500,000 in lifetime Social Security and Medicare benefits. That’s more than $1 million for older couples. But many still won’t have enough money to pay for out-of-pocket medical care and long-term supports and services.

From Thomas & Robert Fross; Forbes ~ Sep 20, 2015

Though it’s normal for markets to go up and down, the recent market volatility has many retirees wondering: is it still safe for retirees to invest in the stock market?

Thomas: Markets move in cycles that are driven by a lot of factors: economic data, political events, underlying company performance, and other factors can all affect markets. Investor sentiment – the opposing emotions of fear and greed – can also cause markets to overreact to events. When investors get fearful, they sell. When prices drop enough, they get greedy again and start buying. These reactions are behind the pullbacks and rallies that make up market cycles.