Seniors

Morton Genser poses with his prescription drugs Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 at his home in Tamarac, Fla. Lawmakers trying to woo seniors skeptical of their health care overhaul have been emphasizing their plan to close the "doughnut hole," a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost a person thousands of dollars a year. For some, trying to avoid the doughnut hole has become a science. Genser's wife Maida meticulously keeps track of her 72-year-old husband's drug costs, tallying statements as they arrive in and trying to determine when he'll hit the threshold. Genser takes numerous pills every day to control diabetes, blood pressure and other problems. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Morton Genser poses with his prescription drugs Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 at his home in Tamarac, Fla. Lawmakers trying to woo seniors skeptical of their health care overhaul have been emphasizing their plan to close the "doughnut hole," a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost a person thousands of dollars a year. For some, trying to avoid the doughnut hole has become a science. Genser's wife Maida meticulously keeps track of her 72-year-old husband's drug costs, tallying statements as they arrive in and trying to determine when he'll hit the threshold. Genser takes numerous pills every day to control diabetes, blood pressure and other problems. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

MIAMI -- Lawmakers have wooed seniors skeptical of the health care overhaul by emphasizing the plan would close the "doughnut hole" - a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost thousands of dollars a year.


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate leaders broke a logjam on a sweeping healthcare overhaul on Wednesday, reaching agreement to vote on four amendments after frustrated Democrats accused Republican opponents of stalling the bill.


More News

Doing time well past their prime (By Abigail Trafford, December 1, 2009)

AGING WELL:  Adult day-care centers face recession-driven funding cuts (Post, December 1, 2009)

AGING WELL:  Life choices, tough choices (Post, December 1, 2009)

AGING WELL:  Millions of seniors may be paying too much for drugs (Post, December 1, 2009)

District's oldest resident reflects on 109 years of living (Post, December 1, 2009)

CONSUMER REPORTS INSIGHTS:  Consumer Reports: Antidepressants can be helpful but risky (Post, December 1, 2009)

Health calendar:  Loudoun County health calendar (Post, November 29, 2009)

Healthcare reform faces challenges in Senate (Reuters, November 23, 2009; 11:47 AM)

Healthcare reform faces challenges in Senate (Reuters, November 22, 2009; 2:36 PM)

Healthcare reform faces challenges in Senate (Reuters, November 22, 2009; 2:36 PM)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County health calendar (Post, November 22, 2009)

Comparison of Democratic health care bills (AP, November 21, 2009; 1:58 PM)

Nonpartisan agency says House bill would reduce senior care:  Medicare cuts approved by House may affect access to providers (Post, November 15, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland health calendar (Post, November 15, 2009)

health calendar:  Loudoun County health calendar (Post, November 15, 2009)

House Democrats promise health-care victory as Republicans remain opposed to bill:  One Republican votes for plan Senate will act next on legislation (Post, November 8, 2009)

health calendar:  Loudoun County health calendar (Post, November 1, 2009)

health calendar:  Loudoun County health calendar (Post, October 25, 2009)

All you need to know about the swine flu vaccine (washingtonpost.com, October 22, 2009; 11:00 AM)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, October 18, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, October 11, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, October 11, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, October 4, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, September 27, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, September 20, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, September 13, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, September 13, 2009)

Scientists Discover 3 More Genes With Links to Alzheimer's Disease:  Studies Shine Light on Production, Removal of Toxic Proteins (Post, September 7, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, September 6, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, August 30, 2009)

Protecting Families Against the H1N1 Virus (washingtonpost.com, August 25, 2009; 1:30 PM)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, August 23, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, August 16, 2009)

Obama to Take On Health-Care Critics:  Town Hall Meetings Expected to Be Feisty (Post, August 14, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, August 2, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, July 26, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, July 19, 2009)

HEALTH CALENDAR:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, July 12, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, July 12, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, July 5, 2009)

Quick Study:  Quick Study (Post, June 30, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, June 28, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, June 21, 2009)

Under Agreement, Medicare Would Pay Less for Drugs:  Manufacturers Pledge to Lower Costs (Post, June 20, 2009)

Their Parents' Keepers:  As the elderly live longer, with more serious ailments, children step up to the difficult task of care -- and often find it unexpectedly rewarding. (Post, June 16, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, June 14, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, June 14, 2009)

Trims to Medicare, Medicaid Are Proposed to Help Fund Reform (Post, June 14, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, June 7, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, May 31, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, May 24, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, May 17, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, May 17, 2009)

Monday, May 11 at 12 Noon ET:  Post Magazine: The Growing Need for Home-Care Aides (washingtonpost.com, May 11, 2009; 12:00 PM)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, May 10, 2009)

Marilyn Daniel's Reward:  She works long hours for low wages as a home health aide -- a job so demanding and underappreciated that others leave in droves. So why hasn't she? (Post, May 10, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, May 3, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, April 26, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, April 19, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, April 12, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun County Health Calendar (Post, April 12, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, April 5, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, March 29, 2009)

House Calls Making a Comeback (Post, March 24, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, March 22, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Southern Maryland Health Calendar (Post, March 15, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, March 15, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Loudoun Health Calendar (Post, March 8, 2009)

Health Industry Voices Support for Obama Health Plan:  Lure of New Customers Creates Unexpected Support for Obama (Post, March 5, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, March 1, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, February 22, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, February 15, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, February 8, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, February 8, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, February 1, 2009)

A Silver Spring ER Aims to Serve Older Patients:  A Silver Spring ER Aims to Serve Older Patients (Post, January 27, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, January 25, 2009)

Many Alzheimer's Caregivers Admit to Abusive Behavior (HealthDay, January 23, 2009)

Moderate Alcohol Consumption May Protect Against Disabilities (HealthDay, January 22, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, January 18, 2009)

At Last, Big Changes Come To SE Hospital (Post, January 13, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, January 11, 2009)

You're Never Too Old for a Flu Shot (HealthDay, January 9, 2009)

'Snowbirds' Beware the Climate Changes (HealthDay, January 7, 2009)

Health Care Spending in U.S. Grew at Lowest Rate in a Decade (HealthDay, January 6, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, January 4, 2009)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, December 28, 2008)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, December 21, 2008)

Government Launches Nursing Home Rating System (HealthDay, December 18, 2008)

Alzheimer's Drugs Also Treat Behavioral, Psych Problems (HealthDay, December 17, 2008)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, December 14, 2008)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, December 14, 2008)

Small Virginia Community Was Organized by Former Catholic Nuns (Post, December 9, 2008)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, December 7, 2008)

Health Calendar:  Health Calendar (Post, November 30, 2008)

© 2002 - 2009 The Washington Post Company