Not necessarily. There has been a nursing care shortage for a long time that is rapidly being exacerbated by the growing number of elderly boomers who need health care. The current administration has also revoked asylum for workers from Haiti and elsewhere and is taking additional steps to limit legal immigration. A hospital staff nurse here in NYC averages about $125k and can make much more with overtime. Those salaries have an upward influence on less skilled healthcare workers. The norm for companies that provide home health care is to charge twice as much for their services as what they pay their employees. Thus, the top companies here charge about $40/hr.
While we are also glad to be in a non-profit, I wouldn't automatically exclude for profit CCRCs. The rapid growth in these institutions in our area means that, just like other industries, they have to be competitive if they want to attract clients and be successful. I would also note that it is becoming increasingly common for non-profits to be managed by for-profit continuing care management companies.
We went through a 3 month period where we needed home health care on a part-time basis and found it very stressful. The typical company charges twice what they pay their employees and turnover is very high. We used the most reputable firm in the area and still had three different aides. We now have been in in an indedpendent living apt in a CCRC for 2.5 years and couldn't be happier with our decision to live here. While things aren't perfect we have made many friends and keep busy with the numerous fitness activities and other activities including bridge, canasta, mah jongg, corn hole, racket ball, lectures and musical performances. Our facility has both apartments and villas and one's level of involvement in the community can be as little or much as they desire. While almost all of us are retired, several residents are still working, mostly remotely, including therapists, physicians and financial advisors (one is 91). Unfortunately, inflation in all forms of health care is outpacing overall inflation and immigration limitations will no doubt add to this problem.
According to Gemini, the deaths in the US are projected to peak in 2055 and then slowly decrease. While Boomers had a smaller birth rate than their parents, their large numbers resulted in a large number of Gen Xers (1965-1980).
Our CCRC's pull cords have sensors that detect movement which is checked at the concierge's station, so we don't need to open our doors. Pendants/watches would be nice in case we couldn't make it to a pull cord, even though there is one in each room. However, I'm too wedded to my Apple watch to wear both.
Does the predicted reduction in SS benefits include the increase in the amount of Part B premiums that will be dedected? There is also an article in today's WSJ that projects IRMAA charges alone are projected to increase 30% from 2026 to 2030.
My father was a general practicioner who had a solo practice until he died prematurely of a stroke at age 65 in 1987 (I remember going on a few evening house calls with him when he used a spot light to identify patients house addresses). More than 1,000 people, mostly his patients, attended his funeral. Unfortunately, I think it is clear that the independent medical practices like his will soon be history.
When I moved to NYC in 1994, I was able to find an excellent family solo practicioner. However, after ~20 years he decided dealing with insurance companies was too expensive and stressful so he joined the NYU medical system. While his missed his independence he said that he was surprised to find that being relieved from much of the stress he experienced in private practice had rejuvenated his enjoyment of being a physician.
What I don't understand about your article is your sole focus on Cigna. Are we to assume that you don't have any problems with all of the other insurers?
My wife and I have been on Aetna MA since we retired in 2019 because it is covered by her retirement benefit program as a former City of NY employee (she was a professor at CUNY). We have never had a problem finding high quality health care providers but I suspect that the large number of retirees in this plan gives the City of NY bargaining power that individual MA participants lack.
Comments
Not necessarily. There has been a nursing care shortage for a long time that is rapidly being exacerbated by the growing number of elderly boomers who need health care. The current administration has also revoked asylum for workers from Haiti and elsewhere and is taking additional steps to limit legal immigration. A hospital staff nurse here in NYC averages about $125k and can make much more with overtime. Those salaries have an upward influence on less skilled healthcare workers. The norm for companies that provide home health care is to charge twice as much for their services as what they pay their employees. Thus, the top companies here charge about $40/hr.
Post: Percentage that “age in place”
Link to comment from May 28, 2026
While we are also glad to be in a non-profit, I wouldn't automatically exclude for profit CCRCs. The rapid growth in these institutions in our area means that, just like other industries, they have to be competitive if they want to attract clients and be successful. I would also note that it is becoming increasingly common for non-profits to be managed by for-profit continuing care management companies.
Post: Percentage that “age in place”
Link to comment from May 26, 2026
We went through a 3 month period where we needed home health care on a part-time basis and found it very stressful. The typical company charges twice what they pay their employees and turnover is very high. We used the most reputable firm in the area and still had three different aides. We now have been in in an indedpendent living apt in a CCRC for 2.5 years and couldn't be happier with our decision to live here. While things aren't perfect we have made many friends and keep busy with the numerous fitness activities and other activities including bridge, canasta, mah jongg, corn hole, racket ball, lectures and musical performances. Our facility has both apartments and villas and one's level of involvement in the community can be as little or much as they desire. While almost all of us are retired, several residents are still working, mostly remotely, including therapists, physicians and financial advisors (one is 91). Unfortunately, inflation in all forms of health care is outpacing overall inflation and immigration limitations will no doubt add to this problem.
Post: Percentage that “age in place”
Link to comment from May 26, 2026
According to Gemini, the deaths in the US are projected to peak in 2055 and then slowly decrease. While Boomers had a smaller birth rate than their parents, their large numbers resulted in a large number of Gen Xers (1965-1980).
Post: Social Security is not going bankrupt, but that is not the full story
Link to comment from January 24, 2026
Our CCRC's pull cords have sensors that detect movement which is checked at the concierge's station, so we don't need to open our doors. Pendants/watches would be nice in case we couldn't make it to a pull cord, even though there is one in each room. However, I'm too wedded to my Apple watch to wear both.
Post: Smart Watch
Link to comment from January 23, 2026
Does the predicted reduction in SS benefits include the increase in the amount of Part B premiums that will be dedected? There is also an article in today's WSJ that projects IRMAA charges alone are projected to increase 30% from 2026 to 2030.
Post: Social Security is not going bankrupt, but that is not the full story
Link to comment from January 23, 2026
My father was a general practicioner who had a solo practice until he died prematurely of a stroke at age 65 in 1987 (I remember going on a few evening house calls with him when he used a spot light to identify patients house addresses). More than 1,000 people, mostly his patients, attended his funeral. Unfortunately, I think it is clear that the independent medical practices like his will soon be history. When I moved to NYC in 1994, I was able to find an excellent family solo practicioner. However, after ~20 years he decided dealing with insurance companies was too expensive and stressful so he joined the NYU medical system. While his missed his independence he said that he was surprised to find that being relieved from much of the stress he experienced in private practice had rejuvenated his enjoyment of being a physician.
Post: Overpaid?
Link to comment from January 22, 2026
What I don't understand about your article is your sole focus on Cigna. Are we to assume that you don't have any problems with all of the other insurers?
Post: Overpaid?
Link to comment from January 19, 2026
My wife and I have been on Aetna MA since we retired in 2019 because it is covered by her retirement benefit program as a former City of NY employee (she was a professor at CUNY). We have never had a problem finding high quality health care providers but I suspect that the large number of retirees in this plan gives the City of NY bargaining power that individual MA participants lack.
Post: How important is planning for Medicare premiums in retirement? VERY!
Link to comment from January 15, 2026
Only about 1/3 of psychiatrists accept Medicare.
Post: How important is planning for Medicare premiums in retirement? VERY!
Link to comment from January 15, 2026