2013 Breaking News Archive Stories

Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about the new Obamacare health insurance exchanges that begin next year? I am interested in retiring early at age 61 but need to find some affordable health care until my Medicare benefits begin at 65. — Ready to Retire Dear Ready: The new health insurance exchanges &mdas

Dear Savvy Senior: What tips can you recommend to help retirees guard against identity theft when traveling? My sister and her husband had their identity stolen while on vacation last year, and I want to make sure I'm protecting myself on my trip to Europe next month. — Paranoid Pam Dear Pam: Most people don't

Dear Savvy Senior: How does one go about creating a trust for their pets? I have a dog and two cats that mean the world to me, and I want to make sure they'll be well taken care of after I'm gone. — Elderly Ellen Dear Ellen: Pet trusts have become more and more popular over the years as senior pet owners are lo

Dear Savvy Senior: What can you tell me about sleep apnea? My husband, who's 60, has become such a terrible snorer that he wakes himself up at night, and he keeps me up, too. — Sleepy Shelly Dear Shelly: If your husband is a loud snorer who wakes himself up during sleep, he probably needs to be tested for sleep

Dear Savvy Senior: What resources can you recommend to help older job-seekers? I'm 62 and have been out of work for nearly a year now and need some help. — Looking For Work Dear Looking: While the US job market has improved slightly over the past year or so, challenges persist for many older job-seekers. Fortunately, there are a nu

Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any smartphones specifically designed for seniors? I'm interested in getting one, but at age 69, I want to find one that's easy to see and use. — Semi-smart Senior Dear Senior: There are actually several manufacturers who are now making simplified smartphones with features designed

Dear Savvy Senior: My income dropped way off when I retired early last year, and I'm wondering if I fall into the so called "47 percent" of Americans who won't have to pay any income taxes this year. What can you tell me? — Curious Senior Dear Curious: The percentage of seniors age 65 and older who won't have t

Dear Savvy Senior: What's the best conflict-free way to divvy up my personal possessions to my kids after I'm gone? I have a lot of jewelry, art, family heirlooms and antique furniture — and five grown kids who don't always see eye-to-eye on things. Any suggestions would be appreciated. — Seeking Peace Dear S

Dear Savvy Senior: What resources can you recommend to seniors who are shopping for a car? My wife and I are relatively healthy 70-year-olds and are looking for a new senior-friendly vehicle, but we could use some help. — Older Drivers Dear Older: For seniors who are in the market for a new or used car, the Ame

Dear Savvy Senior: What tips and resources can you recommend to folks interested in retiring abroad? My wife and I will be retiring next year and are intrigued with the idea of living in a foreign country. What can you tell us? — Looking Abroad Dear Looking: Whatever your reasons for wanting to retire abroad &m

Dear Savvy Senior: Are there any services that you can recommend that help pre-retirees decide when to start drawing their Social Security benefits? My wife and I are still a few years away from retiring but want to carefully weigh all our options to make sure we get the most from our benefits. — Approaching Retirement

Dear Savvy Senior: What types of preventive health screenings does Medicare completely cover, and which ones require a co-insurance fee? I'm due to get some preventive tests done, but I want to find out how much I'll have to pay before I proceed. — Frugal Retiree Dear Frugal: Medicare covers a wide array of pre

Dear Savvy Senior: I just turned 50 and would like to know what resources you recommend for locating senior discounts. — Love to Save Dear Love: One of the great perks of growing older in the US is the many discounts that are available to boomers and seniors. If you don't mind admitting your age, here are some