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Health Column: Important info for Medicare beneficiaries
Under provisions in the Affordable Care Act of 2010, some Medicare recipients are suddenly finding themselves without a safety net when in need of subsequent care at a skilled nursing facility. It has resulted in the proposal of new legislation…
Dying and profits: The evolution of hospice
The influx of for-profit companies into the hospice field has benefited patients, advocates say, because the commercial companies made big investments in technology, focused on efficiency and made care more accessible. But a Washington Post analysis of hundreds of thousands…
Affordable Care Act will play major role in tax filing
We had to have this talk sooner or later. Tax-filing time is around the corner, and this season will be the first in which the Affordable Care Act figures heavily. To that end, the Internal Revenue Service has a new,…
In transition to independent living, the ‘dignity of risk’ for the mentally ill
On his 26th morning of independence, Kelvin Cook made a huge pot of coffee and ate oatmeal off a plate. His Social Security check had not arrived and he was down to $5. He had a cellphone plugged into a…
Grandma Scam, IRS calls on worst of 2014 list
It’s time for the annual roundup of the top scams and consumer ripoffs of 2014. Here they are: •IRS Calls – If you didn’t get one of these calls, consider yourself lucky. These scammers would threaten to take you to…
12 Ways to Survive a Forced Early Retirement
When most workers plan for retirement, they expect to work until their full retirement age, which is 66 or 67 for people born after 1942, or even longer. But some workers find themselves out of a job at an age…
If you adopt some of these New Year’s resolutions, your financial life will be better
Some things never change, including most of these recommendations I make every year. Your financial life will be easier in 2015 if you make and keep some of these New Year’s resolutions: Don’t buy something on credit unless you know…
New savings options available for Tennesseans with disabilities
A bill aimed at promoting financial stability for individuals with disabilities awaits the president’s signature after winning approval by the U.S. Senate. The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act allows people with disabilities to save money without jeopardizing their eligibility for Social Security…
Roth IRA: How a well-timed conversion could yield sweet tax savings for retirees
If you are a retiree with a traditional 401(k) or IRA, there may be a window of opportunity for you to convert a significant portion to a Roth IRA tax-free. You can take advantage of this Roth IRA conversion if you’re not…
Coburn Introduces Bill to Protect and Strengthen the Social Security Disability Insurance Program
The disability trust fund will be completely exhausted in less than two years, according to the Social Security Board of Trustees. When this happens, the more than 11 million Americans receiving disability benefits will face immediate cuts of nearly 20…