Mar 25 Obama ready to sign bill revamping Medicare doctor fees By Alan Fram and Nedra Pickler, Associated Press President Barack Obama said Wednesday he's ready to sign "good, bipartisan" legislation protecting physicians from steep cuts in Medicare reimbursements and bolstering health programs for children and the poor as Senate Democrats seemed to soften their opposition to the package. Continue reading
Mar 25 Who loses from a permanent Medicare doc fix? By Philip Moeller Making Sen$e Medicare columnist Phil Moeller is excited about the possibility of a bipartisan breakthrough in Congress, and on the years-long fight over the Medicare "doc fix" no less. But someone, he explains, will have to pay for the impending… Continue reading
Mar 22 Estimated 16 million gained insurance since health law took effect By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press The polemic around "Obamacare" hasn't cooled much in five years, and the permanence of the president's achievement remains in question as the nation awaits the outcome of a Supreme Court case that could jeopardize insurance for nearly 8 million people. Continue reading
Mar 18 Guess who really pays for your Medicare By Philip Moeller As Congressional leaders grapple with a possible permanent solution to Medicare cuts to physicians, Making Sen$e Medicare columnist Philip Moeller delivers a little tough love about the role that Medicare beneficiaries play in the nation’s expanding "entitlement deficits."… Continue reading
Mar 18 Senate, House GOP differ on savings approach to Medicare By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans are putting down a marker with their budget blueprint, one day after the House GOP unveiled a 10-year plan that boosts the military, makes deep cuts in social programs and targets President Barack Obama's laws on… Continue reading
Mar 11 I can get my Social Security abroad, so why not my Medicare? By Philip Moeller If health care costs are lower in other countries, wouldn't Medicare save money by allowing beneficiaries to receive medical care overseas? Making Sen$e Medicare columnist Phil Moeller gets lots of questions from retirees hoping to receive Medicare abroad the same… Continue reading
Mar 09 Your relationship means nothing to Social Security unless you’re married By Laurence Kotlikoff Marriage is the only way to validate a relationship before the Social Security Administration. Even if a couple has raised children together and one partner dies, Social Security does not consider the other partner eligible for the late partner's widow(er)'s… Continue reading
Mar 04 Why are my health insurance premiums going up and up? By Philip Moeller A reader's insurance agent says that everyone's premiums are going up. But the reader wonders if he could be spending less. Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller tells him what to look for. Continue reading
Mar 01 Dysfunction in Congress not limited to homeland security fight By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press Congress' dysfunction isn't limited to the struggle to keep a Cabinet department running without interruption. Continue reading
Feb 25 When your doctor is in-network one year and out the next By Philip Moeller Insurers are often under competitive pressure to change network providers from year-to-year. But those changes can catch customers, especially of Medicare Advantage plans, off guard. Continue reading