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20 Years of Disability Claims Data Reveal Emerging Workforce Productivity Challenges
An analysis of 20 years of Cigna’s short-term disability claims shows that absence related to obesity, treatment for skin cancer and herniated disc surgery increased significantly from 1993 to 2012, while a reduction in absences related to depression coupled with…
Financial penalties may quell senior citizens’ desire to take a trip down the aisle
An increasing number of older Americans are cohabiting instead of marrying. A mosaic of financial-related, not always marriage-friendly rules may be largely responsible for keeping older singles from tying the knot. As New York Times writer Stanley Luxenberg puts it: “Americans have long…
Cash-strapped feds to cut back Medicare oversight this year, OIG official says
One of nursing homes’ most vigilant government watchdogs plans to dramatically curb its activities this year, a federal official has told the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General…
5 Little-Known Roth IRA Tax Considerations
Is it better to save for retirement in a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA? Spend a little time researching this question, and you’ll learn an interesting mathematical truth: If your tax rate is the same when you make contributions as it…
Tips for getting on Part A and B of Medicare
Getting on Medicare can be confusing so I would like to share some simple tips about ways you can go about it. Part A is hospitalization coverage and Part B is the medical benefits. There is no charge for Part A…
Medicare Advantage emerges as a campaign issue
Money that the Affordable Care Act is cutting from Medicare Advantage is certain to be a campaign issue in this year’s congressional elections. Medicare Advantage is especially popular in New York, where 35 percent of Medicare patients participate in a plan…
What You Can Do at the Medicare and SSA Websites
In the eight years since I joined Medicare, my card has become not just smudgy but nearly in shreds. I have always wondered why it is issued on paper instead of plastic. Last week, I visited the Medicare website to see how to…
Congressman Kilmer vows to protect Medicare, Social Security
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer assured Port Angeles seniors last week that he is committed to protecting Medicare, Social Security and elements of the Affordable Care Act. Kilmer, a first-term Congressman and Port Angeles native, said his 104-year-old grandmother is among the…
About to Retire? Three Big Questions
If you’re approaching retirement, you are probably focused on a single issue: Do I have enough money? This is indeed the crucial question. But as you try to figure out whether you can comfortably retire, I would also encourage you to…
Social Security: Can You Change Your Mind and Get More Benefits?
Deciding when to take Social Security is hard, and many times, people make choices they later regret. Is there a way to change your mind in order to boost your Social Security benefits? In the following video from our Social Security…