Monday, June 16, 2008

Golden Opportunities

Golden Opportunities is a series of articles from The New York Times examining how businesses and investors seek to profit from the soaring number of older Americans, in ways helpful and harmful.
Reporting by Charles Duhigg.


Reverse mortgages have boomed, but many consumers complain of unethical and high-pressure sales tactics.
Tapping Into Homes Can Be Pitfall for the Elderly

Elderly plaintiffs have sued companies for financial abuse even though they admit they made unwise decisions.
Shielding Money Clashes With Elders’ Free Will

Medicare spends billions of dollars each year on products and services that are available at far lower prices.
Oxygen Suppliers Fight to Keep a Medicare Boon

The top-ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee has asked 11 long-term care insurance companies to explain “troubling data” regarding how policyholders’ claims are handled and paid.
Scrutiny for Insurers of the Aged

Insulated from lawsuits by their corporate structures, private investors in nursing homes have cut expenses and staff, sometimes below minimum requirements.
At Many Homes, More Profit and Less Nursing

Financial advisers with little training give counsel they are unqualified to offer, advocates for the elderly say.
For Elderly Investors, Instant Experts Abound

Large companies are selling vast databases of personal information to thieves, despite evidence their services are used for fraud.
Bilking the Elderly, With a Corporate Assist

Many long-term-care policyholders say that years of premiums have resulted in only excuses about why insurers will not pay.
Aged, Frail and Denied Care by Their Insurers

Trading in life insurance policies held by wealthy seniors has quietly become a big business for investors.
Late in Life, Finding a Bonanza in Life Insurance

Audio:
The thieves worked from small, second-floor offices. They called thousands of elderly Americans and posed as government or insurance workers who needed a few bits of information. Then, they emptied their bank accounts.
Telemarketing Scams

Audio and Photos:
Thousands of elderly Americans with long-term-care insurance policies have had their claims denied.
A String of Denied Claims

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting the reminders.

This is very depressing to read a summary of the schemes and scams that we hear about in the news.

Which reminds me these predators are just warming up and they have their eyes on us.

There are only two types of people in this world:
Predators and their Prey.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea for a series -- too bad he didn't address the guardians and attorneys rubbing their hands together in anticipation of the Baby Boomers comeing their way.

Anonymous said...

One of the databases which serve fraud upon elders is the pro bono legal services network. Never trust an attorney; especially one that works for FREE.