Dena Bunis

The Truth About Voting Laws

Some Prescriptions Drugs Will Cost Less in 2023

We may all get the chance to vote for president of the United States in November, but how we vote, where we vote and how we prove we’re eligible to cast our ballot will depend on where we live. There’s a good chance that the rules of the road in your state have changed since the last time you voted for the nation’s chief executive. The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to run our elections. The Founding Fathers set out some basic ground rules, including the terms of the president and memb…

President Joe Biden told a joint session of Congress on March 7 that he will emphatically reject any cuts to Social Security or Medicare. In his State of the Union address, the president also urged lawmakers to expand efforts to help Americans pay less for their prescription drugs and provide needed support for family caregivers. “If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age I will stop them,” Biden said. “I will protect and strengthen Social Security and m…

A survey of beneficiaries enrolled in both original Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans revealed a common problem: More than a third of those polled had to wait a month or more to get in to see a doctor. And Advantage enrollees are more likely than original Medicare beneficiaries to face delays getting care because the health plan had to approve the service ahead of time. Despite the wait-time issue, more than two-thirds of beneficiaries — whether enrolled in original Medicare or an MA pl…

They vote in big numbers. They are invested in the nation’s future and worried about a wide range of issues — from the cost of living to immigration to the state of our democracy to their ability to retire. They are women 50 and older, and they could be the biggest wild card in this fall’s elections, according to an AARP public opinion poll. AARP’s latest “She’s the Difference” survey echoes past findings that older women pay close attention to upcoming elections and that their votes could make…

Had the upcoming cap on out-of-pocket spending on Medicare Part D-covered prescription drugs been in effect in 2021, 1.5 million enrollees would have saved money on their medications that year, according to a new analysis released Feb. 8 by the nonpartisan KFF. And millions more could have lower drug costs over time. In 2025, Medicare beneficiaries won’t have to pay more than $2,000 a year in copays or coinsurance for the prescription drugs their plan covers. The spending cap will apply to origi…

For the third time in the past four months, the federal government has been on the verge of a shutdown, only to be brought back from the brink at the last minute. But there is some good news for older Americans: Your Medicare benefits will not fall victim to a shutdown even if lawmakers and the White House can’t agree on how to fund government operations before the next deadlines in March. Unlike most government services that rely on Congress to appropriate money for them to operate each year, s…

A new AARP report reveals that the prices of brand-name and specialty drugs that millions of Americans rely on for their health have continued to increase faster than inflation — in many cases, far faster. The latest findings underscore the importance of a provision in the new AARP-backed Rx law that penalizes big drugmakers for such outsize hikes. Since 2004, AARP’s Public Policy Institute (PPI) has kept tabs on how much prescription drugs prices have increased. The latest “Rx Price Watch” repo…

We're in for fiery races for governor, Congress and president

From ID requirements to absentee ballots, what you need to know before voting

For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the OK for a state to import prescription drugs from Canada, where the prices for many life-sustaining medications are far lower than in the United States. This approval allows Florida’s health agency to begin putting in place a drug importation process for some state health programs. States began passing importation laws in 2019 to bring down the runaway prices of prescription drugs. The first law was passed in Colorado,…

What’s new for Medicare beneficiaries in 2024? A lot — including changes that expand care and make coverage more affordable. For starters, Medicare’s more than 65 million enrollees will continue to feel the positive effects of 2022’s historic drug law aimed at curbing what older Americans pay for prescription medications. At the same time, beneficiaries will face higher premiums and deductibles for their medical care. The face of Medicare continues to shift as an increasing number of people (mor…

During campaign stops, candidates pressed on key issues, from caregiving to Social Security 

The federal government is continuing its efforts to protect older Americans signing up for Medicare coverage for the first time or switching to a new health plan during open enrollment. Among the enhancements included in a proposed regulation that could go into effect in 2024, commissions for insurance agents and brokers who enroll beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, the private insurance alternative to original Medicare, would be standardized. This move is designed to deter agents a…

In exclusive interviews with AARP, three Republican presidential hopefuls say if their campaign for the White House is successful they will support the more than 48 million family caregivers who help their loved ones each and every day. As part of its national effort to build support for caregivers, AARP asked leading GOP primary candidates how each would help family caregivers if elected president. Video answers from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former P…

Cuatro aspirantes republicanos a la presidencia dicen que si su campaña por la Casa Blanca tiene éxito, apoyarán a los más de 48 millones de cuidadores familiares que ayudan a sus seres queridos cada día. Como parte de su esfuerzo nacional para crear apoyo para los cuidadores, AARP les preguntó a los principales candidatos del Partido Republicano cómo ayudarían a los cuidadores familiares si fueran elegidos presidente. A continuación, aparecen videos con las respuestas del gobernador de Florida,…

Average monthly premiums for health insurance sold through all the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces are projected to increase by about 5 percent in 2025, but those hikes are expected to be offset by federal subsidies available to most Americans. The 11th annual open enrollment period for the program begins on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and it’s the one time during the year that most people can sign up for individual health insurance coverage or change the plan they have. Those who live in the 37 s…

We worry a lot about what Medicare beneficiaries must for pay out of pocket, such as monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and copays for doctor visits and prescription drugs. But what many enrollees may not realize is that there are services that won’t cost them a cent. You can get vaccines and screenings for a number of illnesses and see your doctor each year for a wellness visit. You can also get counseling to help you kick smoking or manage your diabetes. You won’t be subject to any out-of-p…

Ever since President Lyndon Baines Johnson made Medicare the law of the land in 1965, hundreds of millions of Americans have relied on this program to help them get affordable, quality health care. About 66 million individuals are currently enrolled in Medicare. Of those, more than 57 million are people 65 and older and more than 8 million are younger people with disabilities. Medicare has evolved over the years. In 1997, Congress officially created Part C, what is now known as Medicare Advantag…