“Your father is very sick.” This is not what you want to hear from your parent’s oncologist, but precisely why I was by my father’s side at his appointments. The coldest days of winter 2017 were also the darkest days, as I was living in fear my father,… Continue reading
As a new decade and year are about to begin, professional forecasters are, of course, going through the exercise of guesstimating the future course of the markets and U.S. economy. From what I’ve seen, they’re generally expecting the record-breaking U…. Continue reading
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) Bill Craze, 81, of Houston, was frustrated with the doctor he’d been seeing for five years. “I didn’t think I was getting the attention that I needed,” Craze says. “I … Continue reading
(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.) No one wants to opt into extra time at the doctor. But staying up-to-date on recommended screenings and tests is shown to keep more people healthy and independent. And… Continue reading
“Hello, this is Medicare calling. Your coverage is about to be cancelled.” This type of fraudulent call and others like it happen every day. According to AARP, Medicare fraud losses hit $60 billion in 2017 and continue to rise. And Medicare scammers se… Continue reading
(Understanding the rules about Social Security benefits and when to start claiming Social Security can be difficult. But they’re critically important, especially for women — since women typically live longer lives than men. The new book, What’s the Dea… Continue reading
Beginning this year and continuing into 2020, Medicare Advantage plans (ones from private insurers typically for people 65 and older) have increased flexibility to provide coverage for what the government calls supplemental benefits. These are services… Continue reading
Here are two eye-popping facts: Someone turning 65 will have a nearly 70% chance of needing long-term care in the future. And the annual cost of a private room in a nursing home (national median) is over $100,000 a year, according to the recent Genwort… Continue reading
What do diabetes, Graves’ eye disease, thyroid problems, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia and several other medical conditions have in common? They can all be detected during a careful eye examination… Continue reading
You know the old expression, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” I sometimes feel that way about the high cost of health care. But Dr. Marty Makary, author of the new book about America’s health care system — The Pri… Continue reading