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Events | Health Care | Be An Activist | Politics | Pensions & Social Security | Advice

EVENTS

IFT Retirees Chapter Events

'The Boys from Syracuse." Aug. 28: Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace. Reserve by July 18 to IFT. Click for a flier.

Book Discussion of Julia Alvarez's "Saving the World;" Sept. 23: sponsored by the IFT Retires Chapter, at the Healey Conference, 500 Oakmont Lane, Westmont. Click for info.

Social Security and Medicare Seminar, July 24: sponsored by the IFT Retires Chapter, at the Healey Conference, 500 Oakmont Lane, Westmont. Click for info.

>> See the Illinois Federation of Teachers Retirees Chapter web page

>> Beijing City Stay, Nine days traveling in China, Nov. 9 - 17,

Seminar on Medicare and Social Security Thursday, July 24 in Westmont

>> Lunch and theatre: The Boys from Syracuse Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace

MONEY

Meet our Money Mentors: Wisdom earned and shared (USA Today, May 2008)

How to defuse the 5 scariest retirement threats -- Inflation, an insufficient nest egg, low stock returns, unscrupulous advice and falling home prices, oh my. (USA Today, June 2008)

Bankruptcy Rising Among Seniors -- Swamped by debt and rising medical bills, elderly Americans have been seeking bankruptcy-court protection at sharply faster rates than other adults, jumping by 150% in the past 16 years. (USA Today, June 2008)

HEALTH CARE

>> New report details drug company price gouging -- A report by the Alliance’s Department of Government and Political Affairs details the shocking extent of price gouging by pharmaceutical companies. Paid for by the Alliance for Retired Americans Educational Fund, the report concludes that for millions of Americans, high drug prices are a major barrier to maintaining an acceptable quality of life. (ARA)

BE AN ACTIVIST

Stretch your dollars with AFT + car rental discounts -- Traveling during the holiday season? Car rental discounts with Alamo, Budget and National help AFT members stretch their travel budget.

Take Action at the Medicare Rights Center:

>> Parity for Medicare

>> Two-Year Waiting Period

>> Overpayments to private plans

POLITICS

PENSIONS & SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security checks now offer debit card option -- For millions of Americans, accessing their Social Security benefits is now just a card swipe away. (USA Today, June 10, 2008)

Turning 62: The Retirement boom begins. Check out this USA Today five-part series .

Day 1: Boomers' eagerness to retire could cost them -- "Many of those who retire early will accept reduced benefits — and in doing so will risk falling short of their financial needs." (USA Today, Jan. 18)

Day 2: Early retirees try to fill gap in health coverage -- About 16% of individuals 50 to 64 are uninsured.

Day 3: Older baby boomers caught all the breaks

Day 4: Managing your retirement fund can be tricky -- "It's this whole money illusion game," says a business professor at Temple University. "Having $500,000 looks much bigger than somebody promising to pay you $50,000 (a year) for the rest of your life. You feel rich going into retirement."

Day 5: Reverse mortgages aren't for everyone

How big a ‘nest egg’ do you need to retire? By focusing on spending needs, you may be able to do better than you think (See the MSNBC package on retirement, Nov. 5)

>> Is there really a retirement savings crisis? Baby Boomers seen doing fairly well, and even Gen Xers can play catch-up (See the MSNBC package on retirement, Nov. 5)

>> See the easy-to-use calculator

. . . and ADVICE

Empowerment for Family Caregivers -- If you are a caregiver, the National Family Caregivers Association offers tips on how to keep your physical and mental health a priority.

Turning 62: The Retirement boom begins. Check out this USA Today five-part series

Day 1: Boomers' eagerness to retire could cost them -- "Many of those who retire early will accept reduced benefits — and in doing so will risk falling short of their financial needs." (USA Today, Jan. 18)

Day 2: Early retirees try to fill gap in health coverage -- Some early retirees who lack employer coverage "are just hanging on until they're eligible for Medicare," says David Certner, director of federal affairs for AARP. "Either they can't afford (health insurance), or they can't get it. They're hoping nothing happens before they hit age 65." About 16% of individuals 50 to 64 are uninsured, AARP says.

Day 3: Older baby boomers caught all the breaks

Day 4: Managing your retirement fund can be tricky -- "It's this whole money illusion game," says Jack VanDerhei, a business professor at Temple University. "Having $500,000 looks much bigger than somebody promising to pay you $50,000 (a year) for the rest of your life. You feel rich going into retirement."

Day 5: Reverse mortgages aren't for everyone

MSNBC package on retirement

>> How big a ‘nest egg’ do you need to retire? By focusing on spending needs, you may be able to do better than you think (See the MSNBC package on retirement, Nov. 5)

>> Is there really a retirement savings crisis? Baby Boomers seen doing fairly well, and even Gen Xers can play catch-up (See the MSNBC package on retirement, Nov. 5)

>> See the easy-to-use calculator

>> Dear Marci: What to do? What to do? Ask Marci, the ANSWER Diva at the Medicare Rights Center. The topic for November: The Medicare Annual Election Period

Part D Appeals Manual -- An advocate’s manual to navigating the Medicare private drug plan appeals process. (Medicare Rights Center, Free Registration)

Asclepios is MRC's e-mail policy alert on key Medicare consumer issues. Each edition will provide you with the latest information on one particular issue and recommended actions for addressing them. The list serve is named for the Greek and Roman god of medicine and healing. (Medicare Rights Center)

Considerations Before Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan Nearly 43 million Americans are Medicare beneficiaries. Most receive their health care services through the Medicare program but nearly 8.3 million receive care through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans provided by private insurance companies under contract with Medicare. The government pays the plans 12 to 19 percent more than the cost would be under Medicare; there is much doubt whether this arrangement is advisable, not only for the fiscal health of the program but also for the beneficiaries involved. Download this pdf.

See the SUAA (State University Annuitants Association) web site for some excellent links.

John Terwilliger's web site offers some very good info on Illinois pensions.

News to Use

Here are a few of our favorite sources of news about retirement issues and higher education on the regional, state and national levels. Let us know if you have a favorite site, and we'll try to add it.

>> Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alerts

>> AFT Leadernet: (If you belong to UPI, click here and we can authorize you to use this helpful site.)

>> Illinois Board of Higher Education: Current stories about higher ed and Illinois colleges and universities as well as a wealth of data.

>> IFT: News from the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

>> UPI News Archives: Coming soon.

>> Alliance for Retired Americans: Friday Alerts contains news of interest to retired persons.

>> Social Security Online

>> Internet Basics from the Alliance for Retired Americans

>> Watch a Video on "Saving Social Security," a 12-minute video that details the rich history and profound significance of Social Security for older Americans.

>> Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

>> Stay healthy

>> U.S. Government web site lists resources for senior citizens.