By Frank Newport; Gallup ~ Nov 20, 2014

Story Highlights

· 52% of Americans say ensuring healthcare not gov’t responsibility

· Current views reverse sentiment seen before Obama took office

· Views on proper gov’t role may help explain opposition to ACA

PRINCETON, N.J. — For the third consecutive year, a majority of Americans (52%) agree with the position that it is not the federal government’s responsibility to ensure that all Americans have healthcare coverage. Prior to the start of Barack Obama’s presidency in 2009, a majority of Americans consistently took the opposite view.

By Peter Uber; Forbes ~ Nov 19, 2014

It is well known that Medicare expenditures threaten the financial solvency of the U.S. government. And it is pretty well agreed upon that some of our Medicare spending goes towards wasteful medical care.

But which medical care is wasteful and how much is such care costing us? A study in JAMA Internal Medicine provides a sneak peek at answers to these important questions. The research, led by Aaron Schwartz, a graduate student at Harvard, focused on interventions that medical experts deem to provide little or no health benefit. For example, the Choosing Wisely campaign, promoted by medical societies, has concluded that testing people’s lung function prior to low and intermediate-risk surgeries does not improve surgical outcomes. Similarly, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has concluded that colon cancer screenings yield more harms than benefits for elderly patients.

By Steven Reinberg, HD; WebMD ~ Nov 19, 2014

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Seniors in America have more chronic health problems and take more medications than seniors in 10 other industrialized countries do, according to a new global survey.

The United States also stood out among the 11 nations surveyed by The Commonwealth Fund for having more seniors struggling to get and afford the health care they need.

Eighty-seven percent of U.S. adults who are 65 and older suffer from at least one chronic illness, and 68 percent have at least two illnesses, which were the highest rates found, the survey showed. Also, 53 percent of older Americans take at least four medications, another record high, and 21 percent spend at least $2,000 in yearly out-of-pocket health care costs, which was second only to Switzerland.

By Shefali Luthra; Kaiser Health News ~ Nov 19, 2014

Americans older than 65 are more likely to have chronic illnesses and to say they struggle to afford health care – despite qualifying for the federal Medicare program – than are seniors in other industrialized countries, according to a study by the Commonwealth Fund published Wednesday in the journal Health Affairs.

The findings, which are based on phone surveys conducted in 11 industrialized countries, highlight gaps in Medicare coverage that should be addressed, said Donald Moulds, one of the study’s authors and executive vice president for programs at the fund.

Among the specific findings:

By Ed Silverman; The Wall Street Journal ~ Nov 19, 2014

As the new year approaches, many Americans with prescription drug coverage provided by Medicare Part D may encounter sticker shock. The reason is that more Part D beneficiaries will be expected to pay co-insurance, which means they will be asked to pay a higher percentage of the total cost of their medicines.

As many as 66% of Part D plans will apply co-insurance, an increase of 83% from last year, for their top formulary tiers, according to an analysis by Avalere Health, a consulting firm. These tiers include expensive specialty medicines and so-called non-preferred brand-name drugs, which are reimbursed at lower rates.

By Gail Buckner; Fox Business ~ Nov 18, 2014

Most people would not characterize the number 58 as “mind-boggling.” And yet, that’s exactly how it felt when I searched for a health insurance plan for a hypothetical 50-year old individual living in the state of Pennsylvania. Fifty-eight options came up, each one with a different combination of monthly premium, co-pay, annual deductible, estimated out-of-pocket amount, etc.

The monthly premiums ranged from $212 to $616. Under one plan a trip to my primary care doctor would cost me as much as $50; under another, I’d pay nothing, but that office visit was only “free” after I had paid for $6,000 in medical expenses out of my own pocket! If I took a generic drug, this would generally run between $8-$15. But no plan addressed the cost of non-generic drugs. And why did some describe their coverage in terms of “co-payments” while others used the term “co-insurance?”

By Glenn Ruffenach; MarketWatch ~ Nov 17, 2014

Missed deadlines can lead to penalties and coverage gaps

A new report highlights the substantial difficulties that many older adults face in enrolling in Medicare, and calls for new steps to simplify and streamline the process.

The report—titled Medicare Part B Enrollment: Pitfalls, Problems and Penalties—is the work of the Medicare Rights Center, a New York-based nonprofit group. The report notes that enrollment problems can have serious consequences for retirees: Beneficiaries new to Medicare, according to the center, “may face lifetime late-enrollment penalties, higher health care costs, gaps in coverage and disruptions in care continuity.”

By Tom Raum; The Associated Press ~ Nov 17, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal watchdog agency overseeing the nation’s pension protection system reported Monday that it’s running a $62 billion deficit – almost double last year’s shortfall – mostly due to the poor financial condition of a few large multi-employer pension plans.

Despite a strengthening U.S. economy, plans that now protect the pensions of up to 1 million workers and retirees “are likely to run out of money” in the next 10 years, the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation said in a report.

Overall, the agency insures the retirement pension benefits for more than 41 million individuals in private defined-benefit pension plans; 401(k) retirement accounts are not included.

By Nanci Hellmich; USA TODAY ~ Nov 16, 2014

Social Security recipients will get a 1.7% cost-of-living adjustment starting in January, according to the Social Security Administration.

For the average retired person receiving Social Security, monthly payments will rise $22 to $1,328 from $1,306. The average couple’s benefits will rise to $2,176 from $2,140.

So what does all this mean for retirees? USA TODAY talked to Christopher Jones, chief investment officer for Financial Engines (FNGN), a provider of defined contribution managed accounts.

By David McCabe; The Hill ~ Nov 15, 2014

Social Security judges awarded disability benefits for close to 25,000 people who should not have received them, costing the government $2 billion, according to a forthcoming report from the Social Security Administration’s inspector general.

The number of judges who awarded the claims was relatively small. They accounted for roughly four percent of all administrative law judges, who decide the claims.

Many of the individuals who benefited from the awards are still receiving benefits, and the government expects the cost of the decisions to grow by $300 million next year, according to the report to be released Monday.