Jul 12 What happens to your Social Security payments when one spouse dies By Philip Moeller When Social Security was created, family benefits did not drop off sharply when one spouse died because few women were in the workforce. But with the first baby boomers now age 72, the volume of very difficult survivor situations will… Continue reading
Jul 11 Watch 6:30 Funding cuts, premium increases and the future of Obamacare President Trump’s effort to eliminate the Affordable Care Act was stymied by the Senate last year, but he hasn't stopped trying to undermine it. William Brangham asks New York Times health care correspondent Margot Sanger-Katz about recent funding reductions for… Continue watching
Jul 11 Watch 10:46 Amid new hurricane season, Maria still taking a toll on Puerto Rico's elderly By Jason Kane and Sarah Varney, Kaiser Health News As Puerto Rico enters another hurricane season, the island’s elderly residents find themselves especially vulnerable. A recent study found some 4,600 Puerto Ricans perished in the months following Hurricane Maria--including many who died because of delayed medical care. Special correspondent… Continue watching
Jul 11 Watch 2:57 Why we shouldn't call midlife blues a 'crisis' As he interviewed subjects for a book on age and happiness, author Jonathan Rauch noticed a theme: people in their middle age felt dissatisfied with life, and they were ashamed of it. Indeed, recent studies have found happiness and contentment… Continue watching
Jul 11 Where does the United States stand on breastfeeding? By Laura Santhanam Despite pressure from the Trump administration to water down resolution that promoted breastfeeding during the World Health Assembly, breastfeeding rates in the U.S. have risen in recent years, but there's still room for improvement, experts say. Continue reading
Jul 10 These states could ban abortion if the Supreme Court upends Roe v. Wade By Julie Rovner, KFF Health News Reversing the landmark case would not automatically make abortion illegal across the country, but it would return the decision about abortion legality to the states. Continue reading
Jul 09 Trump says U.S. opposed formula limits, not breastfeeding, in World Health Assembly resolution By Associated Press The New York Times reported that U.S. officials sought to remove language that urged governments to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, along with language calling on policymakers to limit the promotion of food products, such as infant formula, that can… Continue reading
Jul 09 For terminally ill cancer patients, where you live can shape end-of-life care By Laura Santhanam A study from Harvard Medical School suggests better conversations about end-of-life care could help close the gap. Continue reading
Jul 08 Trump administration takes another swipe at 'Obamacare' By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press The Trump administration is freezing payments under an "Obamacare" program that protects insurers with sicker patients from financial losses, a move expected to add to premium increases next year. Continue reading
Jul 07 New approach to breast cancer screening — tailoring guidelines for each patient — may save lives and money, study says By Orly Nadell Farber, STAT A new study suggests that women might benefit from individualized approaches to mammograms rather than from universal guidelines. Continue reading