By Eric Beech & Richard Cowan; Reuters ~ Jun 22, 2016
Washington – Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled an alternative plan to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system on Wednesday, slamming Obamacare even as they aimed to keep some of its more popular provisions.
Their proposal, part of broader effort by House Speaker Paul Ryan to offer a Republican agenda ahead of the Nov. 8 elections, is conservatives’ latest bid to “repeal and replace” the 2010 law.
By Matt Vasilogambros; The Atlantic ~ Jun 22, 2016
In what the Justice Department is calling the largest takedown of healthcare fraud in U.S. history, federal authorities on Wednesday brought charges against 301 people for $900 million in false billings.
By Jonnelle Marte; The Washington Post ~ Jun 22, 2016
The trust fund used to pay hospital insurance costs for Medicare will be wiped out two years earlier than expected, according to a government report released Wednesday.
The report also showed that the Social Security trust fund has enough cash to pay full benefits for another 18 years, the same timeline as last year. In the latest annual check-up on the two largest entitlement programs, the trustees overseeing both Social Security and Medicare said additional reforms are needed in order to avoid cutting health care and retirement benefits for American retirees.
From Robert Laura ; Forbes ~ Jun 16, 2016
When it comes to retirement success, visions of financial stability can vary from person to person. Some people dream of a million-dollar 401(k), the capacity to travel the world on a moment’s notice, or the ability to relax in different homes in order to take advantage of the seasons. While money, travel, and home ownership may represent some traditional components of retirement readiness, I have uncovered three unique indicators of retiree’s ability to make a successful transition from work-life to home life. In other words, financial habits and preferences that position them to make their money last throughout retirement.
By REUTERS; The New York Times ~ Jun 14, 2016
WASHINGTON — Four U.S. senators – two Democrats and two Republicans – introduced a bill on Tuesday aimed at preventing big pharmaceutical companies from using safety rules to prevent generic drugs from coming to market.
Senators Charles Grassley, chair of the Judiciary Committee, and Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat, are sponsors of the bill along with Senators Mike Lee and Amy Klobuchar, the chair of the antitrust subcommittee and top Democrat, respectively.
By Tim Mullaney; Senior Housing News ~ Jun 13, 2016
The U.S. health care system is changing in big ways, and senior living companies have much to contribute in the dawning era—but it hasn’t been easy for them so far. They have not been allowed to participate in some of the emerging models of care affecting their residents, and now is the time for senior living providers to invite themselves in and prove they belong, according to some industry leaders.
By Suzanne Woolley; Bloomberg ~ Jun 09, 2016
For the past two years, a commission made up of 19 high-profile people from the academic, political, business, and investment worlds has been busy devising a bipartisan plan to strengthen the retirement security and personal savings of Americans. The result, a comprehensive 146-page report from the Bipartisan Policy Center packed with ideas, came out today.
By Mark Miller; Reuters ~ Jun 09, 2016
CJOCAGE – A coalition of progressive politicians, policy experts and grassroots advocates started a campaign three years ago facing very long odds. They proposed expanding Social Security retirement benefits for millions of Americans.
Mainstream thinking in Washington at the time ran in the opposite direction: Social Security benefits should be cut as part of a “grand bargain” to get the federal deficit under control. Nearly all Republicans supported this consensus view, as did many Democrats with moderate or conservative leanings. President Barack Obama also bought in to this thinking, signaling that he was open to benefit cuts as part of a big budget deal.
The Associated Press ~ Jun 07, 2016
NEW YORK (AP) — Shopping for a financial adviser? Make sure to do a background check first.
A few quick internet searches can save you from handing over your money to a fraudster or someone who has racked up complaints from past customers.
Running into someone with a less-than-stellar record can be more common than you think. As many as 20 percent of brokers at some of the country’s largest financial institutions have disciplinary records, according to a March study by researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota.
By Mary Beth Franklin; InvestmentNews ~ Jun 06, 2016
If inflation continues at its current low pace, 2017 may turn out to be another year when Social Security recipients will not receive an automatic increase in their monthly retirement and disability benefits. If that happens, it would mark the second year in a row — and the fourth time since 2010 — that there will be no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in Social Security benefits.
