DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Opinion | Maximizing Profits at the Patients’ Expense
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “Patients Hit With Big Bills While Insurers Reap Fees” (front page, April 7):Chris Hamby’s investigation uncovers the hard truth for patients who receive care from providers outside their insurance network. While most of us try to save out-of-pocket costs by using in-network health professionals and hospitals, it’s not always possible. Health price transparency is improving, but it’s outrageous that even two years after the No Surprises Act passed, everyone except the patient knows the price of a procedure or doctor’s visit in advance, leaving patients unpleasantly surprised. The writer is senior director of Health Care Campaigns for U.S. PIRG. To the Editor:This is just the latest example of the schemes deployed by insurers to maximize profits by cutting reimbursements to physicians and shifting medically necessary health care costs onto patients.

Persons: Chris Hamby’s, it’s, unpleasantly, Patricia Kelmar Alexandria Organizations: Bills, Health, U.S Locations: Va

☆ Social Security isn’t keeping up with inflation. That could weaken Biden’s support among some seniors
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Not long ago, senior citizens got the two biggest annual increases in their monthly Social Security checks that most had ever seen. While inflation has afflicted Americans of every age, senior citizens are often in a more difficult predicament because many live off fixed incomes. Many depend heavily on Social Security – some 42% of elderly women and 37% of elderly men rely on the monthly payments for at least half their income, according to the Social Security Administration. They aren’t wrong: Inflation has eaten away at 36% of Social Security benefits’ buying power since 2000, according to an analysis last year from The Senior Citizens League. The president needs these senior voters since polls also show his support among younger Americans has eroded since 2020.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Shannon Benton, “, ”, Mary Johnson, Johnson, –, Trump, they’ve, Marty Cohen Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Senior Citizens League, Social Security Administration, Biden, James Madison University Locations: Pennsylvania, Arizona , Michigan, Wisconsin

☆ What investors should know about the UAW's organizing drive of VW
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"We're going to carry this fight on to Mercedes and everywhere else," Fain told VW workers Friday night following the historic vote. Impact on labor costsTop of the list of likely impacts from organizing efforts at VW is labor costs. But for the Big Three Detroit automakers — and their shareholders — the VW organizing drive could be a positive. GM, Ford and Stellantis have higher all-in labor costs than non-organized automakers such as VW. Fain on Friday said "the real fight begins now," referring to the expected negotiations between the union and VW.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, Alex Hertel, Fernandez, It's, Shawn Fain, Kelcey Smith, Kevin Wurm, Fain, Let's, Joe Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, there's, – Organizations: Volkswagen, Getty, DETROIT, United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit union's, U.S . Department of Labor, Columbia University, Union, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, VW, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, Detroit automakers, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo, Washington Post, Workers, Mercedes, UBS, Big Three Detroit automakers —, GM, Ford, Chamber, U.S, Capitol, Reuters Locations: Chattanooga , Tennessee, U.S, Vance , Alabama, Chattanooga, Washington , U.S, Detroit

☆ Taking Account of Rising Health Care Costs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Josh Ocampo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Navigating the health care system in the United States can often feel like being lost in a maze. For that reason, Chris Hamby, an investigative reporter, has devoted much of his five-year career at The New York Times to guiding readers through such dizzying questions. His latest article, which was published online this month, explored the complex subject of insurance bills. Last year, Mr. Hamby began investigating MultiPlan, a data firm that works with several major health insurance companies, including UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Aetna. After a patient sees an out-of-network medical provider, the insurer often uses MultiPlan to recommend how much to reimburse the provider.

Persons: Chris Hamby, Hamby, MultiPlan Organizations: The New York Times, Times Locations: United States, Cigna, Aetna

☆ 5 things Jameela Jamil does to protect her body and mind in an unbalanced world
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Andrea Kane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Season 9 of the podcast Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the intersection between body weight and health. It’s the society that’s broken, not the individuals.”Here are five things Jamil does to protect her own mental health in a world that often feels unbalanced. Don’t manipulate imagesJamil said that to protect her mental health, she stipulates in her contracts (when she can) that her photos not be airbrushed. “Part of what I care about is making sure that people don’t feel, you know, as though this is just something we can’t do something about,” she said. We have to organize and come together.”“It’s just important that we don’t feel helpless, I think,” she said.

Persons: Sanjay Gupta, Jameela Jamil, Tahani Al, Jamil, influencers, “, ”, @i_weigh, —, I’m, she’s, “ I’m, I’ve, ” Jamil, “ I’ve, ‘, ’ ”, Esther Perel, It’s, airbrushing, …, ” “ Organizations: CNN, ” Locations: England, It’s

He had planned to lead a team of 15 local journalists reporting on the eclipse. Journalists at The Democrat & Chronicle have worked without a contract since 2019, said Susan DeCarava, president of the NewsGuild of New York, the union that represents them. Workers also seek a policy regarding the ethical use of artificial intelligence in reporting and writing articles, Mr. Craig said. “We had this incredible story that would touch a lot of people in our community,” Mr. Craig said. “Hopefully we’ll be back at the negotiating table tomorrow morning,” Mr. Craig said.

Persons: “ I’m, I’m, ”, Gary Craig, Susan DeCarava, “ Gannett, Ms, DeCarava, Craig, ’ bylines, “, ” Amy Garrard, ” Mr, we’ll Organizations: Democrat, Chronicle, Gannett, Journalists, The Democrat, The New York Times, ” Gannett, USA, Workers Locations: Rochester , N.Y, New York, newsrooms, United States, Rochester

BOSTON (AP) — Financially embattled hospital operator Steward Health Care has struck a deal to sell its nationwide physician network to Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, as it works to stabilize its finances. Maura Healey has said state monitors are keeping eye on the nine health care facilities operated by Steward Health Care in Massachusetts, including hospitals in some of the state’s poorer communities. Emails to Steward Health Care and Optum seeking comment were not immediately returned. Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said for-profit companies that participate in the health care system must understand that their decisions have direct impacts on patients and communities. “After years of gross profiteering and mismanagement, Steward’s latest plan raises more serious questions about the future of the Massachusetts health care system," Warren said in a written statement.

Persons: —, Maura Healey, Optum, David Seltz, ”, ” Seltz, Ronald Mariano, Democratic U.S . Sen, Edward Markey, ” Markey, “, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Steward’s, Warren, Steward Organizations: BOSTON, Health Care, UnitedHealth, Steward Health Care, Department of Public Health, Steward, Democratic Massachusetts, Democratic U.S ., Health, Education, Labor, Primary Health Locations: Massachusetts, The Dallas, Boston, U.S

☆ EPA issues new auto rules aimed at cutting carbon emissions, boosting electric vehicles and hybrids
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Kevin Lamarque | ReutersThe Biden administration announced new automobile emissions standards Wednesday that officials called the most ambitious plan ever to cut planet-warming emissions from passenger vehicles. The rules come as sales of electric vehicles, which are needed to meet the standards, have begun to slow. The agency is finalizing the rule as sales of clean vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, hit record highs last year. At the same time, the Democratic president needs cooperation from the auto industry and political support from auto workers, a key political voting bloc. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that White House officials "don't have any concerns" about the final EPA rule.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Michael Regan, Regan, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ″, we're, Manish Bapna, Amanda Leland, Dan Becker, Donald Trump, Becker, Trump, Biden's Organizations: Detroit Auto, Reuters, Biden, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Democratic, United Auto Workers union, White, Natural Resources Defense, Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity Locations: America, Detroit , Michigan, EVs, Detroit, China

☆ Denying Your Medical Care is Big Business in America - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Alexander Stockton | Video Alexander Stockton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Should your insurance company be allowed to stop you from getting a treatment — even if your doctor says it’s necessary? Doctors are often required to get insurance permission before providing medical care. This process is called prior authorization and it can be used by profit-seeking insurance companies to create intentional barriers between patients and the health care they need. Prior authorization has been around for decades, but doctors say its use has increased in recent years and now rank it as one of the top issues in health care. The video also explains how a process that is supposed to save money actually inflates U.S. health care costs while enriching insurance companies.

☆ Here's how to reduce your health-care costs during Medicare Advantage open enrollment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Certain retirees can now change their health coverage during Medicare Advantage open enrollment, which runs until March 31. Medicare Advantage is health coverage provided through private companies that are paid by Medicare to cover your benefits. If you're already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you can take advantage of the open enrollment period to switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or drop your Medicare Advantage plan and switch to original Medicare and perhaps also a separate Medicare drug plan. However, those enrolled in Medicare Advantage may need lower savings targets, the research found. Medicare open enrollment periods can be an opportunity to identify potential ways to save.

Persons: Carolyn McClanahan, McClanahan Organizations: Medicare, Finance, Social Security, Research Institute, Planning Partners, CNBC FA Locations: Jacksonville , Florida

☆ Federal budget deficit expected to soar to $2.6 trillion in 2034, CBO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The federal budget deficit will balloon from $1.6 trillion this fiscal year to $2.6 trillion in fiscal year 2034, according to the latest Congressional Budget Office outlook released Wednesday. A major reason for the widening gap between revenue and spending: a spike in net interest payments on the federal debt due to higher interest rates. The nation’s debt held by the public is expected to rise to a record 116% of the economy by 2034. CBO’s deficit projection will likely add pressure to congressional lawmakers who have yet to agree on funding for federal agencies for fiscal year 2024. Budget experts called on Congress to take action to address the nation’s worsening fiscal situation.

Persons: MacGuineas, they’ve, Mike Johnson, ” Michael Peterson, Peter G Organizations: CNN, Congressional, Social Security, Medicare, CBO, GOP, Capitol, Federal, House Republicans, Peterson Foundation

☆ What weight tells us about our health
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Dr. Sanjay Gupta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

(CNN) — If you’ve been paying attention to health news recently, you may have noticed a subtle but real shift in the way society discusses body weight. Beyond health care dollarsDespite changing attitudes about larger bodies, excess weight does carry a price. From a health care standpoint, it costs the country a lot of money. According to a study published in the journal The Lancet in 2020, 27% of total health care expenditures in 2016 — about $730.4 billion — could be attributed to “modifiable risk factors” for preventable health conditions like cardiovascular disease. That was eight years ago, when our total health care expenditure was $2.7 trillion, according to the study.

Persons: you’ve, We’re, Dr, Fatima Cody Stanford, “, They’re, Adolphe Quetelet, Ancel Keys, ”, ” Stanford, Morgan, That’s, we’ll, Daniel Lieberman, who’ll, Oprah Organizations: CNN, American Medical Association, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, National, bloodwork, Harvard Locations: Belgian

CHANNELVIEW, Texas — For nearly 20 years, Texas environmental regulators have kept a disturbing secret. AdvertisementTexas Community Health News; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality"Any exposure to a carcinogen increases your risk of developing cancer. AdvertisementTim Doty, a former TCEQ mobile air monitoring expert, at the industrial edge of River Terrace Park in Channelview, Texas. In fact, the agency rarely fines companies that violate Texas air pollution laws. Mark FelixHoneycutt's toxicology division soon took an even more dramatic step to weaken Texas' benzene guidelines.

Persons: Loren Hopkins, Hopkins, Mark Felix, TCEQ, AirToxScreen, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, Menefee, Tim Doty, Doty, Solv, He'd, Glenn Shankle, Kelly Keel, Todd Riddle, Riddle, Lopez, Joe Lopez, Dora, Joel Lopez, Randy Lopez, It's, Joel, Felix Benzene, wildcatters, Houston —, Forbes, Lorenzo de Zavala, Alison Cohen, Cohen, Tim Doty's, Houston Mayor Bill White, Shankle, Michael Honeycutt, Valerie Meyers, Meyers, Mark Felix Meyers, Richard Hyde, John Sadlier, Ryder, Hyde, hadn't, Russell Allen, Matt Baker, Jacintoport, Cloelle Danforth, Public Health Watch —, Danforth, Mark Felix Honeycutt's, Eric Schaeffer, Schaeffer, Honeycutt, Jim Tarr, polluters, upended, Mark Felix Fracking, Barnett, Glenn Shankle —, —, Rick Perry, Perry, Sadlier, David Bower, misstep, Baker, Bower, Michael Burgess, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Mark Felix Meanwhile, Randy, That's, Carolyn Stone, Stone, Carolyn Stone's, Mark Felix The, Cynthia Benson, Benson, Mark Felix Tim Doty, Mark Felix K, Jordan Gass Organizations: Public Health Watch, Texas Commission, Environmental, American Petroleum Institute, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Navy, Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, General, Health, Public Health, Rice University, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Community Health, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney, polluters, Mark Felix Public Health, TCEQ, Solv, Mark Felix Public Health Watch, myelodysplasia, Houston, Oil, Gas Watch, Texas, Houston Ship, University of California, Houston Mayor, ., . Texas Community Health, NASA, Exxon Mobil, Public, Watch, Environmental Defense Fund, Management, Civil, Air Alliance Houston, Republican, Fort, United, Texas toxicologist, EPA, Texas Tribune, Google, Land Office, . Geological Survey, National Oceanic, Firefighters, U.S . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Channelview, Improvement Coalition, Health Watch, San Jacinto, K, Texas Legislature, Solv Group, Services Locations: , Texas, Texas, Houston, Channelview's Jacintoport, San Jacinto, California, Jacintoport, Channelview , Texas, AirToxScreen Harris County, Channelview, Harris County, United States, North Channelview, Gulf, Terrace, Joel's, Houston , Texas, Spindletop, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Port of Houston, San Francisco, . Texas, That's, polluters, lacquers, Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth City, Austin, Round, Minnesota, Galveston, U.S

DETROIT (AP) — Casino workers for MGM Grand Detroit have voted to ratify a new contract, ending a 47-day strike. MGM Grand Detroit workers are union members of the Detroit Casino Council, which represents nearly 4,000 employees of the city's three casinos. Their approval Saturday on a five-year agreement comes weeks after unionized workers reached an agreement with other two casinos following a roughly one-month strike. Workers at MGM Grand Detroit, Hollywood Casino at Greektown and MotorCity Casino walked off the job Oct. 17 over issues including health care and wages that had not kept up with the cost of living. "We’re excited to welcome our team back and continue providing our guests the entertainment experiences for which MGM Grand Detroit is known,” Matt Buckley, President and COO of Midwest Group, MGM Resorts International, said in a Saturday statement.

Persons: “, Gabriel Robert Hernandez, ” Matt Buckley Organizations: DETROIT, —, MGM Grand Detroit, Detroit Casino Council, Workers, Hollywood, MotorCity, Teamsters, MGM, Detroit, Midwest Group, MGM Resorts International Locations: Greektown

President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign will air a new TV ad nationally and in key battleground states focused on his administration’s plan to lower health care costs and prescription drug prices, according to a campaign official, hitting Trump on health care after the former president raised the prospect of repealing Obamacare. The 60-second spot seeks to draw “a stark contrast” between Biden’s health care plans and Trump’s. More than 40 million Americans are covered under the Affordable Care Act, which passed in 2010 and which the Biden administration has built upon. “My predecessor wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. The Biden campaign has focused on health care as a theme all week, showcasing issues like pre-existing conditions and communities of color who benefit from the current law.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, ”, Judy, “, Trump’s, Trump, ” Biden, Donald Trump’s, Harris, Julie Chavez Rodriguez Organizations: Trump, Affordable, Biden, Wednesday, Obamacare, The, Survivor Locations: Nevada, Pueblo, Colo, Phoenix , Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas , Raleigh, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Paradise, Donald Trump’s America

☆ Opinion | How to Put ‘Community’ Back in the Mission of Community Hospitals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Amol S. Navathe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

What it means is that they are considered charities by the Internal Revenue Service (as opposed to being owned by investors, like for-profit hospitals). These hospitals proliferated after federal tax rules about 50 years ago made it easier to qualify for tax exemptions. So why are nonprofit hospitals behaving in ways that seem to focus more on dollars than patients? This looming likelihood, plus financial challenges from the pandemic, a severe worker shortage, rising inflation and stock market volatility have put nonprofit hospitals in survival mode. And you would think that focusing on the mission would be the top priority, though boards aren’t doing this consistently.

Organizations: Internal Revenue Service Locations: United States

☆ 'Women's No. 1 source of stress is money,' expert says. Fixing that requires a step-by-step approach
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While men are most commonly say they are "hopeful" when it comes to money, women's number one word for their financial feelings was "stress," according to a 2023 Fidelity Investments survey. 1 source of stress is money," Sallie Krawcheck, CEO of Ellevest, an online investing platform for women, told CNBC in a recent interview. watch nowThere are a reasons why women's financial concerns are more acute. Consequently, women's top goal is to shore up the wealth they're lacking, while their second priority is taking care of their families, she said. A step-by-step approach works bests, according to Stacy Francis, a certified financial planner and president and CEO of Francis Financial in New York.

Persons: Sallie Krawcheck, Krawcheck, Cary Carbonaro, Carbonaro, Stacy Francis, Francis Organizations: Fidelity Investments, CNBC, ACM Wealth, Francis Financial, CNBC's FA Locations: New York, CNBC's

☆ Magic Pills Are Coming
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Andy Kessler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

At healthcare conferences, someone always asks, “What if there was a magic pill?” One that could cure major diseases. Inevitably, the discussion ends with, “But, of course, there is no magic pill.” So we spend, spend, spend on healthcare, from $1.4 trillion in 2000 in the U.S. to more than $4.3 trillion—18% of the economy—in 2021. These treat but don’t cure diseases. Plus, two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, which puts them at greater risk for many chronic diseases such as heart disease and stroke. According to the National Institutes of Health, “86% of health care costs are attributable to chronic disease.”

Persons: Kim Strassel, Allysia Finley, Dan Henninger, ” Organizations: National Institutes of Health Locations: U.S

☆ Retirees face significantly higher Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums in 2024. What to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty ImagesA new law is poised to cap seniors' prescription drug costs covered under Medicare, starting in 2025. But retirees may be in for a shock next year — significantly higher Medicare Part D premiums for prescription drug coverage. That represents an increase ranging from $128.32 to $380.96 from 2023 to 2024, according to the firm. watch nowInsurers may pay higher costs due to the higher out-of-pocket limits, and higher premiums is a way of getting beneficiaries to share that burden, according to Ron Mastrogiovanni, founder & CEO of HealthView Services. High-income beneficiaries will pay higher premiums.

Persons: Ron Mastrogiovanni, Mastrogiovanni, Juliette Cubanski, Cubanski, Michael Daley, Daley Organizations: Medicare, HealthView Services, Research, Social Security Locations: California, Florida , New York , Pennsylvania, Texas, KFF

☆ Opinion: An 11-year-old who survived Uvalde says he and his friends will ‘never be the same’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Opinion Danielle Campoamor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —On May 24, 2022, then-fourth-grader Daniel Ruiz managed to escape the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas that claimed the lives of 19 of his classmates and two teachers. But Daniel, now 11, says the fun-loving kid he was, prior to that fateful day, did not survive the massacre. “My friends, cousins and I will never be the same again … I miss how happy I used to be. Yet these harrowing statistics do not fully or adequately encapsulate the true, ever-lasting harm caused by acts of gun violence. According to a recent study published in the journal Health Affairs, in the one-year period after a shooting, survivors’ health care costs increased by about $34,884, or a 17.1-fold increase.

Persons: Danielle Campoamor, CNN —, Daniel Ruiz, Daniel, Danielle Campoamor Ashley Batz, ” Daniel, “, …, Daniel —, Briana Ruiz, Daniel’s, ” Briana Ruiz, Briana Ruiz Dr, Chethan, Sathya, ”, aren’t, Dr, Jill Emanuel, Emanuel, ” Emanuel, wasn’t Organizations: NBC, CNN, Robb Elementary School, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Health Affairs, Center for, Northwell Health, PEW Research Center, Child Mind Locations: Uvalde , Texas, United States

☆ What Democrats Can Learn From Joe Biden and Poll Numbers - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( David Brooks | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The median voter rule still applies. The median voter rule says parties win when they stay close to the center of the electorate. The Democrats’ strong showing in elections across the country this week proves how powerful the median voter rule is, especially when it comes to the abortion issue. This year, Democrats and their supporters effectively played to median voters, with, for example, an ad in Ohio in which a father who grew up in the church castigated the G.O.P. And if you’re truly living out your faith, you’re not playing into these anger and hatred games.”

Persons: MAGA, —, Biden doesn’t, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Andy Beshear, E.J, Dionne Jr, you’re, ” Organizations: Jackson, Health Organization, Gov, Democrat, Washington Post Locations: It’s, Dobbs v, Ohio, Kentucky

☆ Exit poll shows Swiss right-wing party bouncing back in parliamentary election as Greens lose ground
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Members of the National Council pose for a group picture on the last day of the legislature before national elections in October at the Swiss Parliament Building (Bundeshaus) in Bern, Switzerland on Sept. 29, 2023. Exit polls conducted for Switzerland's public broadcaster showed the country's right-wing populist party was set to further strengthen its position as the largest faction in parliament in a legislative election Sunday that saw the leading Green party lose ground. The Socialists edged up nearly a 0.5 percentage point, while the Greens lost more than 4 percentage points to fall under 10%, according to the exit poll. It appeared set to eclipse the free-market Liberal party in voter support, according to the exit poll conducted by the gfs.bern agency. The parliamentary vote is one of two main ways that Switzerland's 8.5 million people guide their country.

Persons: —, Claudine Juillard, Chatelenat, Alain Berset, Viola Amherd Organizations: National Council, Swiss, Switzerland's, Swiss People's, Socialists, Greens, of States, European Union, Swiss People's Party, Christian, Democrat, Liberal, Socialist, Alpine, Federal, EU Locations: Bern, Switzerland, Poland, Geneva, Carouge, Swiss, Russia, Ukraine, United States

The cost of health coverage through work jumped this year, in part because of inflation, according to a survey of U.S. employers. Later this fall, companies begin their annual coverage enrollment window for 2024, and health care experts say another price hike could be coming. The wider economy has felt those two pressures for more than a year, and now they are starting to affect health care costs, said Gary Claxton, a senior vice president with KFF. Fronstin said health care provider consolidation also can drive up care costs, which ultimately affects premiums. He also thinks the U.S. health care system — with its limited capacity to treat people — is still catching up on providing care that was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persons: KFF, “, ”, Paul Fronstin, Fronstin, Gary Claxton Organizations: Research Institute, Employer, Companies, KFF, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: United States, paychecks

☆ Social Security gains came back to earth. What that means for the economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

That’s why it’s a big deal when Social Security recipients receive their annual cost-of-living adjustment. Starting in January they’ll see a 3.2% increase in their Social Security checks, that’s a much smaller increase than the inflation-fueled boosts of the past two years, the Social Security Administration announced last week. David Certner: The Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is based on the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners. The amount of GDP that’s generated by Social Security checks is actually larger than the total amount of Social Security money going out in the first place. Before the Bell: Could an increase in Social Security possibly add to inflation since that money is bolstering the economy?

Persons: they’ll, Bell, David Certner, There’s, we’ve, David Goldman, —, ”, Neil Saunders, GlobalData, ” Taylor, Taylor, “ Taylor Swift, ” Elizabeth Frank Organizations: New, New York CNN — Social Security, Social, Security, Social Security Administration, AARP, Consumer, Bell, Social Security, Medicare, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Costco, US Securities and Exchange Commission, ”, Aid, Rite Aid, AMC Locations: New York, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Philippines, Brazil, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong

☆ Year-end tax strategies may affect how much retirees pay for Medicare. Here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The change will result in an estimated Social Security retirement benefit increase of more than $50 per month, on average. The average monthly retirement benefit for workers will be $1,907, up from $1,848 this year, according to the Social Security Administration. "But remember, depending on your income, you may also be paying a lot more for Medicare," Franklin said. Medicare Part B premiums are based on incomeMedicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, some home health care services, durable medical equipment and certain other services not covered by Medicare Part A. Medicare Part B premiums for 2024 have not yet been announced. This strategy may help reduce adjusted gross income and future Medicare premiums, Franklin said.

Persons: Mary Beth Franklin, Franklin, Roth Organizations: Social, Social Security Administration, Social Security, CNBC, Medicare Locations: Franklin

Search resuls for: "Health Care Cost"

25 mentions found