“Poverty Does No Favors for Health,” by Alan Mozes, HealthDay “Being in relatively poor financial health when middle-aged or older appears to significantly increase the risk for developing a disability or dying early. The observation stems from an analysis of data from the United States and England that drew links between wealth and health among almost 20,000 people aged 54 to 76. For example, over a 10-year period, Americans aged 54 to 64 who were in the lowest wealth bracket (with financial holdings of $39,000 or less) faced a 48 percent risk for developing a disability and 17 percent risk
Read More

“Why HSAs are surging in popularity,” by Suzanne Wooley, Bloomberg News “The number of HSA accounts increased 16% year over year as of June 30, surpassing 21 million, according to a survey by consulting firm Devenir. Assets held in HSAs rose 23%, to $42.7 billion. As companies shift more health-care costs onto employees via plans with high deductibles, HSAs let workers put pretax dollars into savings accounts for medical expenses.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): HSAs are creating a huge repository of funds that will be available to people who keep themselves healthy
Read More

“Medicare Advantage Market Continues to Look Good,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor “The total number of distinct Medicare Advantage plans has increased to 2,619 this year, from 2,311 last year, and the number of plans available with no out-of-pocket premium bills for the enrollees has increased to 1,053, from 896, according to Mark Farrah analysts. The number of Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans, or plans designed to serve people with chronic health problems, increased to 640, from 589. The Medicare Advantage program has also shown steady enrollment growth. In September, Medicare Advantage plan enrollment stood at about 20 million, up 7
Read More

“Americans Are Retiring Later, Dying Sooner and Sicker In-Between,” by Ben Steverman, Bloomberg “The U.S. retirement age is rising, as the government pushes it higher and workers stay in careers longer. . . . Data released last week suggest Americans’ health is declining and millions of middle-age workers face the prospect of shorter, and less active, retirements than their parents enjoyed.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Dangerous demographic changes are afoot. Americans Are Retiring Later, Dying Sooner and Sicker In-Between #retiring
Read More

“XPRIZE Visioneers Summit Culminated in a Thrilling Closing Night Speech and Top Honors for Alzheimer’s Team,” Age Wave “Read the press release about the Alzheimer’s Team at 2017 Visioneers Summit. Watch Ken Dychtwald’s stirring closing night speech.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Got the Monday morning blahs? Take a 20-minute break and watch this exhilarating speech. You’ll be glad you did. XPRIZE Visioneers Summit Culminated in a Thrilling Closing Night Speech and Top Honors for Alzheimer’s Team #xprize
Read More

“Floating an alternative to assisted living,” by John O’Connor, McKnight’s Senior Living “For bargain-hunting seniors in reasonably good health, cruise ships may be a more affordable housing option than assisted living communities. So claims a recent article in USA Today. ” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): We’ve heard this one before, but it still tickles. Floating an alternative to assisted living #cruiseships
Read More

“General Electric Has a Long-Term Care Problem. It Isn’t Alone,” by Leslie Scism, Wall Street Journal “A GE executive on the company’s conference call Friday morning said the firm has actuaries combing through its long-term-care insurance reserves in ‘a very complex exercise’ to figure out if they are deficient. . . . GE still has billions of dollars in reinsurance obligations on its books from coverage it sold to other insurers that had sold policies to consumers. By doing so, GE took on some of those carriers’ responsibilities for paying claims, according to analysts. The risk for GE and others
Read More

“Alzheimer’s Team Receives Highest Honors at Annual XPRIZE Visioneers Summit: Ric and Jean Edelman Offer $25 Million in Funding,” AgeWave, BusinessWire “A world-class team of scientists and advocates frustrated by the inadequacy in the global scope, urgency and funding to address the massive Alzheimer’s epidemic, and the slow pace of science, joined forces and received the highest honors at the 2017 XPRIZE Visioneers Summit. The team’s bold impact proposal is designed to globally crowdsource a new 21st century approach to diagnose, treat, cure and prevent the disease.”   LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):
Read More