AARP » Jill Greenberg

Get Some Help Deciding

Jill Greenberg — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:55:56 +0000

In the March edition of the AARP Bulletin, there’s an interesting piece about a new website, seniordecision.com that can help you and your loved ones get the skinny on adult day care providers. With recommendations, comments and firsthand accounts (with over 500 reviews available) the site is an interesting resource. Below, check out the founders Rob and Jennifer Liebreich discussing the site.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Price We Pay

Jill Greenberg — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:50:20 +0000

Drugs ain’t getting any cheaper. I know you know this, but there’s a report out today by AARP to back up the pain you’re feeling. In fact, drug companies have substantially raised prices on 220 brand name prescription drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D since the implementation of the drug benefit four year ago.
Ouch! When you dig in the news is especially grim – the prices of brand name drugs most commonly used by people in Medicare Part D rose by an average of 7.4 percent in 2007 – nearly two and a half times the rate of general inflation. The average cost of drugs to treat chronic conditions (like asthma and diabetes) exploded from $80 per year per prescription in 2002, to $151 in 2007.

Check out the full report. What stinks is that these skyrocketing prices increase the likelihood of higher insurance premiums and the chance that people will fall into Medicare’s coverage gap (also known as the donut hole). Everyone needs help with drug costs, which is why it’s time for things like importation and speedy introduction of low cost generic drugs.

So You Don’t Have to Dig…

Jill Greenberg — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:58:57 +0000

Last night was a big night in the race for the White House. And where were 50 plus voters? Making up nearly half of the electorate, according to the exit polls. In Texas, 44 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of Republicans were 50 plus. In Ohio, the trend was similar, with 46 percent of Dems and 52 percent of Republicans over 50.
And the issues? Economic issues are dominating with all voters – in Texas, one in three Republicans and half of Democrats cited it as their top issue. Nearly half of voters in Ohio (59 percent of Dems and 42 percent of Republicans) also named economic issues as the topic they are most concerned about.
These issue continue to reign supreme in the hearts and minds of voters. When will the candidates really pay attention?

Getting the Farmers in On the Action

Jill Greenberg — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:51:58 +0000

Home & FamilySeems that our friends over at the National Farmer’s Union have a blog. And what are they blogging about? AARP Board President Erik Olsen speaking at the group’s annual conference in Las Vegas about Divided We Fail. Check out the posting here.

Thought I Would Mention…

Jill Greenberg — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:40:12 +0000

In today’s Wall Street Journal, there are some excerpts from a recent interview with Senator John McCain. Included in the myriad of questions is one about Social Security. While private accounts don’t really address the problem with Social Security, McCain does bring up a key part of getting to a solution. He said:

“The way I would fix Social Security is to sit down with Republicans and Democrats together at a table, voicing my opposition to tax increases, and sitting down and negotiating a fix to Social Security, which is the only way that Social Security is going to be fixed. That’s my solution to the Social Security system.”
McCain (as well as the other candidates) have ideas about how to shore up Social Security, but the good news is that he understands that a real solution is going to mean everyone gets together at the table in order to get something done.

Do It Yourself

Jill Greenberg — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:37:06 +0000

Personal HealthAn update from Google on Google Health, their effort to create a product for electronic medical records that’s worth reading about and keeping an eye on. I’ve talked a lot about the benefits of electronic medical records, so read about what the googlers are planning on doing.

Pinching Too Many

Jill Greenberg — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:55:17 +0000

The housing crisis has spread like wildfire and for many it can mean losing their homes. It doesn’t end there; the economy is also a victim.
The Senate is gearing up to debate legislation that can help the over half a million people who are facing foreclosure to stay in their homes while they work out a way to pay their loans. The Foreclosure Prevention Act wouldn’t let people run off without being responsible. Instead, it would help them to try and save their homes by allowing them to go to court to restructure their loans. Right now, people can restructure loans on vacation homes and yachts – this protection should include a person’s home.
Too many people are facing a dire financial situation today. If Congress can give them the opportunity to prevent total disaster, they should. Plain and simple.
Homes are a vital part of retirement security and any opportunity for folks to stay in their homes is an opportunity for a more secure financial future, something we’re all trying for.

Thought You’d Like to Know

Jill Greenberg — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:33:20 +0000

Divided We Fail (AARP, Business Roundtable, SEIU and NFIB) and WISER are co-sponsoring an event today to examine how women can increase their lifetime financial security. An array of perspectives and solutions ranging from implementing new public policy to rethinking financial planning options will be presented, with panels to include Martha Hamilton of the Washington Post, Mary Beth Franklin of Kiplinger, and folks from a whole range of groups.
This comes on the heels of a new report that shows women are nearly twice as likely to be poor as men as they reach pre-retirement and retirement ages, according to a new report. The Public Policy Institute Report found that variables such as marital status, labor force participation, and health status affect the risk of poverty for women as they age. In fact, the poverty rate in retirement for African-American women is nearly three times the rate for white women. African-American women, even those who are not poor, are only one-third to one-half as likely as white women to have income from assets.
Check out the conference.

AARP Goes Global

Jill Greenberg — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:00:52 +0000

Your LifeIt’s not only in America now… AARP’s Global Network is joining with the Canadian Association for the Fifty-Plus (CARP) and Fenacom, an organization headquartered in Rome serving Italy’s aging population to help these groups better meet the needs and interests of their 50 plus populations. All the details are forthcoming, but this could mean a range of AARP endorsed benefits will be available in Canada and Italy. They join Copenhagen-based DaneAge, who joined last year.

Nothing Stops Them

Jill Greenberg — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:54:57 +0000

Yes, in Ohio the temperatures are freezing. But if the candidates are out, so are AARP volunteers and staff. Across the state, they are bird dogging candidates and talking to people about health and financial security. Some photos from AARP Ohio’s Kevin Craiglow, who is currently counting to make sure he still has all 10 fingers and all 10 toes.