Here’s What the Average Retiree Spends on Healthcare Each Year Hint: It’s not a small number.

My Comments: As you approach phase two of your adult life, please understand that the economic and financial dynamics can change dramatically. Retirement is when you have effectively turned off the ‘work for money’ switch and have turned on the ‘money works for you’ switch. That implies you have money and credits in place to …

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Medicare open enrollment begins Sunday – and not just for those age 65 and up…

My Comments: Have you noticed a flurry of ads on TV recently talking about Medicare and all the benefits you are entitled to for one easy price per month? I have. The ads promote the use of Medicare Plan C, also known as Medicare Advantage plans. They are a sop to the insurance industry, giving …

Continue reading Medicare open enrollment begins Sunday – and not just for those age 65 and up…

How to choose a health insurance policy

My Comments: Having health insurance is critical to maintain your financial well being, much less your long term health. Health care costs in this country are the highest in the world, and the long term outcomes are among the worst. The budget passed by the House of Representatives includes a significant cut to Medicare, if …

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Why Sign Up for Medicare If I Have Insurance Already?

My Comments: I’m increasingly asked about signing up for Medicare at 65 or not. This happens as more and more of us are still working at age 65 and expect to keep working for several years to come. This article by Matthew Frankel will give you the background necessary to help your decision. by Matthew …

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GOP confronts an inconvenient truth: Americans want a healthcare safety net

My Comments: Some of my friends continue to decry the notion of socialism. They seem to equate it with communism, a very different animal. It’s too bad they haven’t yet figured out that it’s not a rejection of capitalism. For me, because the word has accumulated so many negatives, not unlike the Confederate flag, I’ve …

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How Did Health Care Get to Be Such a Mess?

My Comments: trump famously commented that he had no idea health care reform could be so complicated. There are five principal stakeholders in our health care delivery system: insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, the medical profession, and lastly, we the consuming public. All five have vested interests they want to grow and preserve, and all …

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CBO: Conservative Bulls**t Obliterator

My Comments: I am relatively powerless as one of some 325M people living in these United States of America. But I have a voice and at least a few people read my blog posts. I’m disturbed by 45’s apparent glee in ceding global economic and moral leadership to China and Germany and other nations. I’ve …

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Medicare Statistics

My Comments: Medicare is a critical element for retired Americans. These statistics are not jaw-dropping but re-affirm our need to be very careful about making changes to Medicare. I’m not convinced the folks in Congress have my best interests in mind when they talk about making changes. Consider yourself enlightened. Maurie Backman | Apr 20, …

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Our Distorted Health Care System

My Comments: As a tax paying mortal, I’m not happy with our incredibly expensive system, one with less favorable health outcomes for us than exists in other countries, at far less cost. Given my background, I have a reasonably good understanding about health insurance and the role it plays in our society. I also have …

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3 Ways to Maximize Your Medicare

My Comments: Given that we are living much longer and that death is inevitable, if follows that access to affordable health care plays a role in our quality of life. This is especially true for those of us moving into or are already well into, our ‘golden’ years. Medicare has become a critical component in …

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