Senior Newswire

December 18, 2017

Your weekly link to grown-up news and information from newspaper and

magazine publications, news organizations and web resources nationwide.

IN THIS ISSUE

Health

Medicare

Money

Politics

Retirement

Social Security

Grandparenting

Caregiving

Working

HEALTH:

People Who Live to 100 Have These Traits in Common: If you're looking to live to 100, you may want to watch more than your diet. TIME, Dec. 13.

How to Save Money on Your Prescription Drugs: Online prescription sites may help you find cheaper prices for some drugs, sometimes without using your insurance. The New York Times, Dec. 9.

Good Friends Might Be Your Best Brain Booster As You Age: A recent study by researchers at Northwestern University highlighting a notable link between brain health and positive relationships. Kaiser Health News, Dec. 14.

MEDICARE:

Everything You Want to Know About Medicare's Rules on Health Savings Accounts: Anyone with Medicare may not contribute to an HSA. They can continue to use any assets within an existing HSA account, but may not make new ones. PBS, Dec. 13.

Does Medicare Cover Vision Services? Though Medicare will pay for vision services related to eye injuries or diseases, when it comes to routine vision care, enrollees are out of luck. The Motley Fool, Dec. 15.

Does Medicare Cover Dental Services? Bad news: For the most part, Medicare won't cover routine dental services like exams, X-rays, and fillings. And you know what that means: higher costs for you. The Motley Fool, Dec. 15.

MONEY:

Even Responsible Savers Make Retirement Mistakes: You've already done the hard work to stash away a nice nest egg for retirement. Don't blow it now. Here are four common missteps that people entering retirement should avoid. Kiplinger, Dec. 15.

10 Things Boomers Must Know About RMDs From IRAs: When you reach age 70 ½ -- and by our reckoning about 3.5 million Americans did so in 2017 -- you need to know the ins and outs of required minimum distributions (RMDs). Kiplinger, Dec. 14.

3 Unexpected Retirement Costs That Can Shake Up Your Finances: Health-care expenses and taxes are throwing off Baby Boomers' spending patterns. USA Today, Dec. 14.

10 Years Later: Have This Year's Retirees Recovered From the Recession? The Great Recession is long gone, but seniors could still be feeling its effects. US News and World Report, Dec. 14.

New U.S. State Retirement Plans are Welcome, But Why so Expensive? Next month, Oregon will become the first U.S. state to start automatically signing up workers to save for retirement if they do not already have a workplace 401(k). Reuters, Dec. 14.

5 Retirement Fees You Should Never Pay: Those who understand the rules can avoid these penalties and taxes. US News and World Report, Dec. 11.

Four Reasons Why Your 401(k) May Be a Giant Rip-Off: Your retirement plan is making someone rich - and it may not be you. CNBC, Dec. 13.

Only Half of Savers Know How Much Money They Need for Retirement. Do You? Having an accurate goal for your retirement savings is a critical part of planning for retirement. The Motley Fool, Dec. 13.

Why Debt Can Be So Dangerous in Retirement: For retirees, at least, debt may be the new scourge. That's because those who are on the verge of retirement today have more debt, on average, than at any other time in recent U.S. history.

MarketWatch, Dec. 14.

3 Retirement Accounts that May be Better Than a 401(k): If you don't have a 401k, don't fret -- these other retirement accounts can actually be a better deal. The Motley Fool, Dec. 12.

POLITICS:

Everything You Need to Know About the GOP's Final Tax Plan in 3 Charts: On Friday evening, Republicans released what they say is the final version of their "Tax Cut and Jobs Act." Both the House and Senate plan to cast their votes early next week. PBS, Dec. 15.

Cutting Social Security Benefits Is OK With 54% of Senators: A proposal by Bernie Sanders to protect entitlement programs from spending cuts as part of the Senate's tax-reform bill was soundly defeated. The Motley Fool, Dec. 13.

RETIREMENT:
The Best and Worst Cities for Retirement: We have looked at the best and worst states for retirement, but what about specific cities? The New York Times, Dec. 14.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

Are Social Security Benefits Taxable? Up to 85 percent of Social Security benefits might be taxable. GoBankingRates.com, Dec. 12.

3 Reasons to File for Social Security on Time: Don't put off starting to collect Social Security just because you'll get bigger checks. There are some solid reasons to start receiving your benefits on time -- or even earlier. USA Today, Dec. 14.

Why Do So Many People Claim Social Security at 62? One reason may surprise you. The Motley Fool, Dec. 14.

GRANDPARENTING:
Financial Help for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: To help with the day-to-day expenses, there are a variety of government programs and tax benefits that can make a big difference in stretching your budget. HuffPost, Dec. 10.

CAREGIVING:

5 Tough Topics to Bring up with Aging Family Members:

Sit down with your loved one and discuss the growing concerns about changed behaviors and how to better ensure a safe future. MarketWatch, Dec. 15.

Home For the Holidays? Talk to Your Family About Assisted Living: More than 6 in 10 adults in a survey say they'd rather die than go to a nursing home. CNBC, 12/14.

Easing the Burden on Caregivers: A new program in Hawaii will provide stipends of up to $70 a day to people caring for an elderly family member at home. The New York Times, Dec. 15.

WORK:

The New Retirement - Working: Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans plan to work beyond traditional retirement age on at least a part-time basis, according to a recent Gallup poll. CNBC, Dec. 14.

7 Easy Steps to Help You Get a Job Next Year: A little preparation in December could lead to meaningful work in 2018. Next Avenue, Dec. 15.

The 8 Most Enjoyable Jobs for Older Workers: If you're looking for an encore career, here are the jobs older workers like best. US News and World Report, Dec. 15.

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