By Julie Appleby; Kaiser Health News ~ Dec 02, 2014

People with health coverage – including those who buy it through government insurance exchanges and Medicare beneficiaries – are likely to pay more out-of-pocket next year for so-called “specialty drugs,” which treat complex conditions, according to two studies from consulting firm Avalere Health.

More than half of the “bronze” plans now being sold to individuals through federal and state marketplaces for coverage that begins in January, for example, require payments of 30 percent or more of the cost of such drugs, Avalere said in a report out Tuesday. That’s up from 38 percent of bronze plans this year.

In “silver” level plans, the most commonly purchased exchange plans, 41 percent will require payments of 30 percent or more for specialty drugs, up from 27 percent in 2014.

By Greg Stohr; Bloomberg ~ Dec 01, 2014

Speaking in September to law students in Nebraska, Chief Justice John Roberts said the U.S. Supreme Court needs to avoid the partisan rancor that has enveloped the other two branches of government.

“I don’t want it to spill over and affect us,” he said. “That’s not the way we do business. We’re not Democrats or Republicans in how we go about it.”

Now, for the second time since 2012, the nation’s highest court will decide the fate of the most divisive issue in U.S. politics: Obamacare. And Roberts, the Republican appointee who cast the vote that saved the health-care law two and a half years ago, is the focus of most of the attention.

That’s because he joined four Democratic-appointed justices to reject the earlier challenge to Obamacare, dismaying conservatives amid a report that he switched sides late in the deliberations. The question is whether he’ll back the law again.

From Stephen Hardy; Lightwave ~ Dec 01, 2014

AT&T has told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that the Commission (and just about everyone else) misinterpreted comments from AT&T President and CEO Randall Stephenson regarding the service provider’s unwillingness to roll out high-speed broadband services due to Net Neutrality concerns. Stephenson wasn’t talking about the 2 million homes AT&T promised to connect if its acquisition of DirecTV is approved (see “AT&T to buy DIRECTV for $48.5 billion”). Nor was he talking about the 25 markets where AT&T has announced its intention to expand (see “AT&T releases list of potential new 1-Gbps FTTH markets”). It’s anything else the company might have been considering that Stephenson was referring to, AT&T now informs the FCC.

By Jennifer Waters; The Wall Street Journal ~ Nov 29, 2014

There’s a widely held misconception that the U.S. government forces you to take Medicare Part B. It doesn’t, but you should take it anyway and in a timely manner.

First, a primer on Medicare Parts A and B. Part A, which you fund with payroll deductions, won’t cost you when you start receiving it, and largely covers inpatient costs and some nursing-home care and hospice.

Part B covers more-basic needs, like doctor visits, preventative care, lab tests and some outpatient drugs. The standard monthly premium (which the government claims covers 75% of total costs) for 2015 is $104.90. The rich pay up to $300 more, depending on their income.

By Sarah Hurtubise; The Daily Caller ~ Nov 28, 2014

One in three Americans has put off seeking medical treatment in 2014 due to high costs, according to Gallup — the highest percentage since Gallup began asking the question in 2001.

Thirty-three percent of Americans have delayed medical treatment for themselves or their families because of the costs they’d have to pay, according to the survey. Obamacare, of course, had promised that it would help make health care more affordable for everyone, but the number of people who can’t afford a trip to the doctor has actually risen three points since 2013, before most Obamacare provisions took effect

By Constance Gustke; The New York Times ~ Nov 28, 2014

RICK CLOUD, 68, knew that he wanted to stay in his home in Austin, Tex., as he aged. But Mr. Cloud, who is divorced, was not sure how he could do that without relying on his two daughters.

Then he ran across the idea of virtual retirement villages, whose members pay a yearly fee to gain access to resources and social connections that help them age in place. Sold on the concept, Mr. Cloud joined with some friends to start Capital City Village four years ago.

“Our virtual village can connect me with people my own age so I can do more things,” said Mr. Cloud, a retired technology consultant. “I worry about being single and getting older.”

Seniors are a target for financial abuse, but you can take steps to help prevent you or a loved one from becoming a victim.

By Eleanor Laise; Kiplinger ~ November 27, 2014

Seniors’ wallets are squarely in the crosshairs of financial predators. Financial exploitation runs the gamut from the quaint and quotidian to brazen and breathtaking abuse. Telemarketers sell auto-club memberships to seniors who no longer drive. Caregivers who are asked to help with the banking withdraw cash for themselves. Or an adult child who holds power of attorney drains your retirement savings and pressures you to change your will for his benefit.

The numbers are stark: People 60 and older accounted for 27% of fraud complaints last year, up from 22% in 2011 and the highest percentage of any age group, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In a recent survey of 40 consumer protection agencies by the Consumer Federation of America, scams against the elderly ranked as the worst complaint category in 2013. “Financial fraud is skyrocketing,” says Doug Shadel, Washington state director for AARP and a former fraud investigator. There are “not enough investigators and prosecutors to handle the unbelievable surge in this activity,” he says.

By Jim Kuhnhenn; The Associated Press ~ Nov 27, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many immigrants in the United States illegally who apply for work permits under President Barack Obama’s new executive actions would be eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits upon reaching retirement age, according to the White House.

Under Obama’s actions, immigrants who are spared deportation could obtain work permits and a Social Security number. As a result, they would pay into the Social Security system through payroll taxes.

No such “lawfully present” immigrant, however, would be immediately entitled to the benefits because like all Social Security and Medicare recipients they would have to work 10 years to become eligible for retirement payments and health care. To remain qualified, either Congress or future administrations would have to extend Obama’s actions so that those immigrants would still be considered lawfully present in the country.

By Julian Hattem; The Hill ~ Nov 26, 2014

AT&T denies that it is planning to pause its build out of high-speed fiber Internet lines to millions of Americans because of potential regulations on Internet service providers.

“AT&T still plans to complete the major initiative we announced in April,” the company said Wednesday in response to questions from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about its plans to deploy U-Verse fiber access service to as many as 100 cities.

Earlier this month, however, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said the company was halting those plans, citing potential net neutrality regulations that could treat Internet service providers like public utilities.

By Sandy Fitzgerald; Newsmax ~ Nov 26, 2014

President Barack Obama’s plan to bring illegal immigrants “out of the shadows” will make millions of them eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits and likely allow them to eventually collect more than they have legally contributed, reports say.

That part of the plan has some Republicans stunned.

“First with Obamacare we were told we should pass it and then read it to find out what was in it,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski told The Washington Post.