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Lawmakers urge Medicare coverage for lung-cancer test
More than 130 lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to expand coverage for a lung-cancer test under Medicare that could cost the program billions, calling the screening important for vulnerable seniors. In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid…
My Turn: Social Security needs ‘common sense’ update
Social Security is one of the most important programs ever established in this country, and after 75 years, it continues to deliver as intended. Yet, recent government reports predict that the Social Security Trust Fund could run out of money…
Financial Engines Helps Near-Retirees Increase Retirement Income
Financial Engines, America’s largest independent investment advisor(1) (NASDAQ: FNGN), today announced it is offering integrated Social Security and income planning services to help near-retirees maximize their household income in retirement. The new integrated offering, which helps near-retirees use their 401(k)s…
Social Insecurity
This essay won Pacifican Rudie Tretten second place at the San Mateo County Fair: Two people — 200 years. There they were seated in the back seat of our car as we drove from San Francisco Airport to Judy’s home in…
Portman talks of ways to curb spending on entitlement programs
Sen. Rob Portman called on Democrats and Republicans to “modernize” and “reform” the entitlement programs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to prevent the national deficit from soaring out of control during the next decade. In an appearance today at…
Retirement moves make a comeback
Steven Ramos, a retired letter carrier, estimated his cost of living would drop 80% when he moved from New York to a rental community in central Florida. In 12 years, Ramos saw the taxes on his modest 1,200-square-foot house in Queens…
ARISE: Disability awareness reaches Millard Fillmore Elementary
Spreading awareness of disabilities and educating children is one of the many aspects of ARISE (formerly Options for Independence). Every year, a different elementary school in Cayuga County is chosen to host our Disability Awareness Day. Millard Fillmore Elementary School…
11 Million On Disability: Why Are Rolls Rising So Fast?
The total number of Americans now on the Social Security Disability Insurance program topped 11 million in May, a record high and an increase of 18% since January 2009, according to new data from the Social Security administration, furthering a…
Thousands to Be Questioned on Eligibility for Health Insurance Subsidies
The Obama administration is contacting hundreds of thousands of people with subsidized health insurance to resolve questions about their eligibility, as consumer advocates express concern that many will be required to repay some or all of the subsidies. Of the eight…
New Blog Series Highlights Personal Savings and Retirement Security Issues
The staff of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) Commission on Retirement Security and Personal Savings recently published a new analysis regarding the transition from defined benefit to defined contribution and with it the responsibility shift from employer to employee for retirement planning. This…