Category: Medicare
August 29, 2023 -- Fulfilling a campaign promise to help save Medicare by controlling excessive drug prices, the HHS announced a list of 10 popular drugs that Medicare will negotiate the prices. The historic move marks the first time that the U.S. government has taken the steps so many other countries have done to control runaway price gouging by the pharmaceutical industry. The ability to negotiation was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. At least one survey shows drug negotiations are very popular with both Democrats and Republicans.
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Published on August 29, 2023
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Category: Active adult communities
August 24, 2023 -- People in GenX might well be confused about their living options for their retirement. Should they be looking at a retirement, 55+, active adult, active resort, independent living, or assisted living community? At the stage where they are now, which type seems best for their retirement dream?
Not so long ago the choices were a lot more limited. One might stay in their own home until that was too difficult, and then move in with one of their adult children. Nursing homes took care of people who could not take care of themselves. Retirement homes (sometimes referred to as old folks homes) became more popular at some point. One could live there with other seniors and enjoy prepared meals and perhaps some chair based recreational activities.
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Published on August 23, 2023
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Category: Retirement Planning
August 15, 2023 — We have been asked a lot of questions over the 16 years Topretirements has been around. Although our website has changed over time, the inquiries tend to be the same – how do I find things on the site, as well as questions related to the…
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Published on August 15, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
August 9, 2023 -- It's a question just about everyone thinks about as they reach retirement age, at least to themselves. What is my life expectancy - or, how much longer do I have on this planet as a living being? And, hopefully, will those will be good years, where I can enjoy life and not be a burden to others.
It is not just an idle question. There are plenty of practical considerations in knowing the answer to your life expectancy, or at least knowing the probabilities. For one, when should I take Social Security? If, for example, I know the odds say I will die before age 80 (and the same for my spouse or he/she is a higher earner), then the best bet is to take this benefit at the first opportunity, age 62. Waiting longer will cost me money I will never see.
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Published on August 9, 2023
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Category: Home and Garden
August 7, 2023 - Part of the fun of being retired is having the time to tinker, fool around with cool stuff, enjoy new types of leisure, and save time and trouble doing chores. There are plenty of products that can help you have more fun, so we thought we would share some of our top picks. Hoping you will add more of your own in the Comments section.
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Published on August 6, 2023
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
August 3, 2023 — We get kind of a sick pleasure in reading the entertaining best places to retire that many websites, in pursuit of clicks and ad dollars, enjoy publishing. One that fits that bill just emerged from Bankrate.com, a website that sells credit cards…
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Published on August 2, 2023
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Category: Health and Wellness Issues
Last August the Senate passed the PACT Act that expands healthcare and benefits to veterans exposed to toxins. There’s no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits. But if you file your PACT Act claim—or quickly submit your intent to file—by August 9, 2023, you may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. If you are a veteran (or a survivor of one) with potential exposure apply now, Or if you have a family member who was exposed, encourage them to apply.
PACT Act Benefits
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that the VA assumes (or “presumes”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
The PACT Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit expansion in VA history. The full name of the law is The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
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Published on August 2, 2023
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Category: Adventurous retirement
August 1, 2023 – Talk about adventurous retirements – Lucy Burdette transitioned in mid-life from a Clinical Psychologist to published author. And on August 8th, she has 2 new books coming out! Crooked Lane Books is publishing the 13th in Lucy Burdette’s popular Key West food critic mystery series,…
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Published on August 1, 2023
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Category: Best Retirement Towns and States
July 25, 2023 — We get this question a lot. When people ask, “Where is the best place to retire,” I have a stock answer: “Retirement is a very personal matter. The best place for you might be a terrible retirement destination for me. Before you can make an informed…
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Published on July 24, 2023
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Category: Estate Planning
July 20, 2023 -- Just about everyone knows that not having a will is a really bad idea. But still, about 60% of Americans either don't have one or have no estate planning. But almost as bad as not having a formal will is having more than one, or not having it designed by a professional and signed in the presence of witnesses. That is the case in the Aretha Franklin estate case, which was decided by a jury last week.
Franklin's estate was reportedly worth $80 million when she died in 2018. But last week its value was estimated to be about $6 million (plus song royalties, etc.). Where did all that money go - it went to expenses, taxes, and lawyers trying to figure out how the estate should be settled among her 4 sons.
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Published on July 19, 2023
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