Analysis Stories - Aging News Alert

How Does the GOP Platform Impact Older Americans? Good Question

In the immediate wake of the just-completed Republican National Convention, older Americans may still be wondering what the GOP has in store for them in the event they capture the White House and retain control of Congress. We’ve heard a great deal of rhetoric about returning America to greatness, but seen virtually no details about the GOP’s plans to address specific concerns of older Americans.

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SCOTUS Garland Nomination DOA? Maybe ... Maybe Not

The recent nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court of the United States may very possibly be the shrewdest move of President Barack Obama’s entire political career. If nothing else, it places Senate Republicans in the unenviable position of being caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

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Why Rx Drug Prices are Going Up: Mystery Solved

Want to know why the prices for your prescription drugs are continuing to rise? Devon Herrick, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning National Center for Policy Analysis, offers a likely reason.

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National Research Council: U.S. Should Rethink Aging-related Policies

The aging of the U.S. population will have broad economic consequences for the country, particularly for federal programs that support the elderly, and its long-term effects on all generations will be mediated by how -- and how quickly -- the nation responds, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council.

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It Could be Time to Put the Cuffs on the CUFF Act

Ever heard of the CUFF Act? The acronym stands for “Control Unlawful Fugitive Felons.” If you’re a Social Security beneficiary or ever hope to be one, the proposed CUFF Act, if enacted in its current form, would indeed affect you -- one way or another.

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Economic Insecurity among Seniors Seen Rising

A new analysis of Census Bureau data by the advocacy group Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) suggests that 49% of U.S. retired seniors live in households which lack incomes required for economic security. State Elder Economic Insecurity Rates range from 57% in Vermont to 34% in Wyoming, according to the analysis.

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Detailed Survey of Older Americans’ Perspectives Now Available

Results of the fourth annual “United States of Aging Survey” are now available. A joint project of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), the National Council on Aging (NCOA), and UnitedHealthcare, the survey is a comprehensive examination of older Americans’ perspectives on aging and what communities can do to better support an increasing, longer-living senior population.

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Reflecting on 50 Years of Medicare

As Medicare enters its 50th anniversary year, now would seem a good time to reflect on a program that has transformed the lives of millions of elderly and disabled Americans while helping to shape the direction of U.S. health care overall.

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Austerity Policies Seen Slowing Progress against Poverty

The economy almost certainly would have improved more in 2013 had congressionally approved austerity policies not reduced the government’s net contribution to the economy.

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Ryan’s Controversial Draft Sparks Safety Net Discussions

A House Republican anti-poverty draft proposal, “Expanding Opportunity in America,” controversially calls for the merging of 11 entitlement programs -- many of them important to older Americans -- into a block grant called the “Opportunity Grant Program.” The block grant idea, which provides state and local governments more control over federal funding, is a Republican favorite, especially with non-defense efforts.

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