seniors

1 in 2 seriously ill Medicare enrollees struggles with bills

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

Prescription drug cost is the leading problem, according to a study published Monday.

How taking Social Security early affects your ex-spousal benefits

By Philip Moeller

People often don’t think about the implications of how filing early for Social Security might affect their future entitlements to other Social Security benefits.

Seniors will get modest cost-of-living increase from Social Security in 2020

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

Seniors and advocates complain that the inflation yardstick used to determine the annual adjustment doesn't adequately reflect their costs, mainly for health care.

Lethal plans: When seniors turn to suicide in long-term care

By Melissa Bailey, JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News

A six-month investigation by KHN and PBS NewsHour finds that older Americans are quietly killing themselves in nursing homes, assisted living centers and adult care homes.

Feds break up $1.2B Medicare orthopedic brace scam

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

The Justice Department announced charges against 24 people across the U.S., including doctors accused of writing bogus prescriptions for unneeded back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces. Others charged included owners of call centers, telemedicine firms and medical equipment companies.

Opinion: The link between more seniors filing for bankruptcy and the unraveling social safety net

By Philip Moeller

Even as current support programs fall short of meeting retiree needs, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid spending for older Americans is projected to take an ever-larger bite of total federal spending.

Opinion: What a 91-year-old taught me about appreciating death

By John Leland

Every time I visited him he said he wanted to die. He wasn’t depressed or even sad – in fact, talking about dying always got him in a good mood. Wanting to die was the best reason to live.

Opinion: Why the midterm elections are key to protecting senior benefit programs

By Philip Moeller

Democratic majorities in either the House or Senate would, for the time being, protect against further weakening of these programs, writes columnist Philip Moeller.

WATCH: Sessions announces crackdown on elder fraud schemes

By Ryan Connelly Holmes

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday the Department of Justice is cracking down on schemes that defraud seniors.

4 tips for making the most of Medicare’s open enrollment

By Philip Moeller

Medicare’s annual open enrollment season begins Oct. 15 and extends through Dec. 7. Here are a few preparatory pointers to help enrollees take full advantage of the opportunity.