By John Schwartz & Katie Thomas; The New York Times ~ Dec 06, 2013

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mike Horrigan is a lifelong Democrat with heart problems who supports President Obama’s health care law because he expects it will help many people obtain better insurance, including himself.

But under the new law, the Affordable Care Act, Mr. Horrigan’s coverage by a state high-risk insurance program was eliminated, then replaced by a more expensive plan. His wife’s individual plan was canceled for being substandard, then suddenly renewed — also at a higher price.

By Richard Eisenberg; Forbes ~ Dec 03, 2013

With less than a week left until Medicare’s Open Enrollment window closes on December 7, I wanted to share a few last-minute tips.

They could save you — or your parents — big bucks when signing up for 2014 coverage through the federal health insurance program for Americans 65 and older.

As my Next Avenue colleague, Caroline Mayer, recently explained, Open Enrollment is the annual period when Medicare beneficiaries can choose, switch, add or drop their health and prescription plan coverage for the year ahead.

By Deborah L. Jacobs: Forbes ~ Dec 02, 2013

Many people, rushing to make holiday plans, would like to take a vacation from thinking about money. Not so fast. In the process you could whiz by some crucial financial deadlines on Dec. 31. Miss them and you might get hit with substantial penalties or lose the opportunity to take advantage of some smart money-saving moves. Here are strategies to consider in the countdown to 2014.

By Robert Powell; MarketWatch ~ Nov 30, 2013

With various stock market indexes hitting record highs, retirees and those saving for retirement need to take steps to protect their hard- or, perhaps in the case of some, their luckily-earned gains.

But which tools and techniques make the most sense?

Well, for folks still saving and investing for their retirement — assuming you have designs on maintaining your positions until retirement and assuming you have access to a full range of investment options, experts say you should consider the following:

By Andrea Coombes; MarketWatch ~ Nov 29, 2013

For many Americans, the task of putting together an estate plan is one of those “to-do’s” that never gets done.

It’s hardly surprising. Estate plans are easy to ignore until it’s too late. They can be cumbersome to implement — generally, you’ll want to have a legal professional draw up the documents. And the process entails thinking about events most of us like to pretend won’t ever happen — death and debilitating accidents.

From Scott W. Atlas, M.D.; Forbes ~ Nov 28, 2013

On this Thanksgiving holiday, we Americans clearly have much to be thankful for, both on the individual level and as a society. Yet this Thanksgiving in particular should be especially thought-provoking, as Americans watch the Affordable Care Act’s rollout and witness a government policy failure that is as large as any in memory.

The ACA is directly causing millions of individuals to lose the health insurance plans on which they have relied for years, and even decades. At the same time, millions

By Phil Galewitz; Kaiser Health News ~ Nov 27, 2013

The nation’s top physician groups told White House officials Tuesday they are worried about what consumers will encounter after Jan. 1, when millions are expected to gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

The groups expressed worries that patients may unknowingly be signing up for “narrow network” plans that don’t include their current physician or local hospital, said Bob Doherty, a senior vice president for the American College of Physicians.

From Frank Armstrong III; Forbes ~ Nov 27, 2013

No retiree ever wants to run out of money. Creating a reliable and sustainable stream of income from their accumulated wealth is their first and most important objective.

But, generating income from your wealth is much harder than simply growing it in the first place. It takes a much different investment policy. In terms of strategy, the accumulation phase is the easy part.

By Kyle Cheney & Paige Winfield Cunningham; Politico ~ Nov 25, 2013

Insurance companies are ready to unleash an expensive PR blitz to get 7 million new customers once HealthCare.gov is fixed.

But don’t expect them to sell “Obamacare.”

Big insurers and the stock analysts that track them say that once the White House is sure its enrollment website is working, the companies will barrage the airwaves with messages encouraging people to join new health insurance exchanges, either by signing up directly with insurers or by giving the website another shot.

From Robert Powell; USA Today ~ Nov 24, 2013

If you are among those older Americans who plan to surprise your loved ones with an unexpected inheritance after you die, a word to the wise is in order. Don’t do it; find another way to surprise them. Yes, experts say it’s best to prepare far in advance your loved ones for any unexpected riches that might fall into their laps courtesy of your estate. Otherwise, the sudden money they receive might be suddenly spent or wasted.