Homage
WASHINGTON WATCH
Report urges universal insurance to pay for costly long-term care By Cheryl M. Keyser Fifty percent of adults over 65 will need some form of long-term care, according to Leading Age, an advocacy organization which represents 6,000 non-profit nursing homes. Yet, long-term care is expensive. There are only three ways to pay for it now: enter a nursing home and apply for Medicaid; pay for a costly long-term care insurance policy; or pay out-of-pocket. The reason it is so difficult to obtain either private or government coverage is that long-term care is open-ended. It includes everything from home care to a private service that may provide companionship or cleaning and preparing meals or round-the-clock home nursing. No one can predict how long care or what type of care will be needed. Now Leading Age has issued a report, “A New Vision for Long-Term Services and Supports,” that would set up a “universal insurance program,” with three elements: a mandatory program to spread risk over a larger population; providing care only after an individual has already paid for their own care for two years; and paying cash for services. For information: http://www.leadingage.org
Reduced drug costs? The premium for Medicare Part D, which covers drug costs, will decline in 2018 from $34.70 to $33.50 a month, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Not much of a difference, but there are indications that more meaningful action may be taken. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, according
to an HHS press release, is proposing “to bring down out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare patients,” by allowing them to “share in the discounted drug prices hospitals are already getting under Medicare.” No indication of when or how much was suggested. This is part of a broad effort “to make drugs more affordable,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price. For information: www.hhs.gov
State loses age lawsuit Pennsylvania has lost a lawsuit involving age discrimination and will have to pay a $60,000 fine, according to a ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The case involved a man older than 40 with extensive legal experience and 17 years of working for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. He applied for a position with a different state agency but was denied as the director of the office thought he might retire soon and would not have “a long tenure” on the job. This attitude violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which does not allow an individual to be treated unfairly based on their age. The ADEA covers those 40 and older. “This resolution should send a strong message to all employers, public and private, that the EEOC will not tolerate age discrimination in the workforce,” said Spencer H. Lewis Jr., director of the EEOC.s Philadelphia District Office. For information: http://www.eeoc.gov
More research money Alzheimer’s is the cruelest disease,
robbing individuals of their memories, recognition of others and even their ability to communicate. Yet, it is a disease for which there is no prevention, treatment or cure. Millions of dollars have been poured into research to find some way to alleviate this scourge and many alternatives as to cause have been posed. One of the major research institutions studying Alzheimer’s is the National Institute of Health, which has consistently tried to increase funding for this purpose. However, in the proposed 2018 federal government budget, funding was reduced by $577 million, a cut of 41 percent. According to Dr. Francis S. Collins, NIH director, a counter budget has not only proposed funding to cover this reduction, but also added $597 million for new research. “This is a critical time in Alzheimer’s research,” Collins said. “But we are beginning to see a way forward where we can now dare to think in terms of true precision medicine.” For information: http://www.nih.gov
Working into retirement One third of the U.S. labor force is now 50 or older, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with more and more individuals wishing to work, at least part time, during retirement. And with aging baby boomers, that percentage will increase. The Society for Human Resource Management has found “few organizations reported having a formal strategy for retaining and/or recruiting older workers.” The most-cited barriers were lack of flexibility in both work location and work schedule. For information: www.shrm.org
September 2017
3
Social Security booklets offered in audio format By Kirk Larson Social Security Washington Public Affairs Specialist Perhaps you’ve been planning to read that booklet on Social Security benefits, but you never seem to find the time to sit down with it. If only you could listen to an audio version, just as you might listen to the latest novel by your favorite author on audio book. Well, now you can. Social Security offers more than a hundred publications in audio format, in both English and Spanish. You can find them at https://www. ssa.gov/pubs/audio/audio.html and https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/ or you can call 800-772-1213 for assistance. Social Security wants to make sure you can get the information you need. That is why we offer our publications in print, online in both internet and PDF versions, and some in audio format. You also can get publications in Braille, in enlarged print and even cassette or CD. If you are blind or visually impaired and are having trouble reading a notice sent to you in the mail, ask a Social Security representative to read it and explain it to you. You can contact us as many times as you want. You can even learn about Social Security in 15 different languages at our Language Gateway. There are many publications you can read and download in Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, or Vietnamese. If you want to learn about Social Security in Greek (or another language), you can at https://www. ssa.gov/site/languages/en/ If you were planning to plug in the ear buds and listen to a little music tonight, why not play the Social Security publication you’ve been putting off?
We can help with home repair projects! Whether you need a furnace repair or replacement, plumbing, a walk-in shower, carpentry job, a wheelchair ramp or water heater replacement, call us... 425.265.2220 • • • Seniors (62+) and disabled • homeowners (18+) may qualify • for free or reduced-fee services for • health and safety related repairs. •
Accessibility modifications All A Grab bar packages ges W elcom Plumbing repairs e! Roof, ramp and deck repairs Furnace repair and replacement Garage door repair and replacement Door and window replacement
Contact us Today
Supporting and Operated by
425.265.2220
e-mail HomeRepair@Homage.org
40+ Years Experience as a Trusted Source of Home Repair. www.homage.org
11627 Airport Rd., Suite B. Everett WA 98204 All work guaranteed. Insured #SENIOSS243OH
1926623