House pushes health system overhaul

The House of Representatives began work on a health care reform package that sponsors say would cover 95% of Americans. It's about time. There is no reason that getting affordable health care should be a luxury in the United States.

Almost 46 million Americans are going without health insurance, according to CNN, and 25 million others are "underinsured." That must change and President Barack Obama is on track to make huge improvements in the nation's health care system.

As we get older, we understand the importance of this issue with a lot more clarity.

Don't count on a raise in Social Security benefits next year

The Congressional Budget Office predicts that Social Security recipients will not get a cost of living increase in 2010. That would be the first time in 35 years that there wouldn't be a COLA, according to the AARP. The COLA is calculated under a formula set by Congress. There may not be one in 2011, depending on inflation.

That will cause hardship for many retirees who rely on their Social Security benefits for their living expenses. More than 50 million people receive Social Security.

These retirees are already reeling from the economy, especially losing value in their homes, which many of them own. Some also could see their Medicare Part B premiums increase.

Is 60 the new 40?

Not really. In fact, 60 is the, well, new 60. You can't get away from it so you must manage this age sort of like the way you manage the garden. Weed often, but not so often that it makes you tired.

Good things will come with a little water, a little sun and some luck.

This is the first point in my life in which age actually has meant something, although I'm not quite sure what that is right now. I'll let you know through the posts on this blog as I develop answers. But it is a little startling that age has now become such a big deal in my life.

And it does give you perspective that you didn't have at 30 and 40 and 50. So that must be a good thing. Plus, you get senior discounts at restaurants. You can also see retirement on the horizon. Unfortunately, the economic bust has put that horizon a bit more into the distance.

So with my AARP card I venture forth into a world that has a lot of aging baby boomers trying to figure out the same questions I pose. Let me know if you have some usable answers.