County”™s nursing home rates heading up
Fairfield County”™s nursing home rates remain among the highest in the nation, according to a study by the Westport-based MetLife Mature Market Institute and LifePlans Inc. of Waltham, Mass.
Stamford-area nursing homes charge $415 daily on average in 2010 for a private room, MMI found, trailing only rates in Alaska which were an astounding $687 on average, and in San Francisco.
National average rates for a private room increased 4.6 percent to $229 daily.
COLA flat for 2011
Retirees will not receive a cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits in 2011, the Social Security Administration announced.
It marked the second straight year that COLA has remained flat, with increases pegged to the Consumer Price Index.
Health reform averages $3,500 for seniors
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, average savings for those enrolled in traditional Medicare will amount to more than $3,500 over the next 10 years. Savings will be even higher ”“ as much as $12,300 over the next 10 years ”“ for seniors and people with disabilities who have high prescription drug costs, according to the study by HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Closing the Part D coverage gap known as the “donut hole” will produce the greatest cost savings. Some 1.8 million seniors and people received a one-time $250 rebate check toward defraying those costs.
Next year, people in the donut hole will receive 50 percent discounts on covered brand name Part D prescription drugs, and seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare will have access to a number of preventive services at no additional cost.
