USA Today

Massachusetts regulators Thursday tackled a difficult question: What is considered affordable health insurance? In an answer that pleased many of the state's patient advocates, the board overseeing the first-in-the-nation effort to require everyone to carry insurance exempted up to 20% of the state's estimated 328,000 uninsured adults from penalties if they do not purchase coverage.For that 20%, the board determined that even the lowest-cost insurance plans made available through the law enacted one year ago may… more

Three universities have suspended top financial aid administrators after revelations that they owned stock in "preferred" lenders that are recommended to student borrowers and their parents. The Department of Education is also reviewing an official's stake in a lender the department oversees.Thursday, the University of Texas and the University of Southern California announced they had placed top financial aid officials on administrative leave pending an investigation into the officials' stock ownership in Student Loan Xpress, a unit of… more

WASHINGTON — The spiraling cost of benefits for seniors is limiting the federal government's ability to invest in kids.Despite Democrats' plans to boost spending on education and children's health insurance, the projected $2.9 trillion federal budget's tilt toward older Americans will only increase, a study out today from the Urban Institute says.The report...shows that their share of domestic spending and tax breaks has dropped from 20% in 1960 to 15.4% today. Barring a change in policy,… more

Health insurance policies with monthly costs of $122 to more than $800 were approved Thursday by the board overseeing Massachusetts' new law requiring everyone in the state to carry insurance.The lowest premiums will be paid by young adults, ages 19 to 26; the highest, by those over 55. The least costly premium for those in the middle is about $175 a month. The state aims to cover all uninsured, with subsidies for those below 300% of the federal… more

More businesses called for change in the health care system Wednesday when Wal-Mart (WMT), Intel (INTC), AT&T (T) and Kelly Services (KELYA) joined with the leader of a large labor union in calling for "quality, affordable" health insurance for all Americans.The groups did not offer details of how to change the system, laying out instead four broad principles: Every person must have insurance; businesses, government and individuals must help pay for it; people have a responsibility to maintain… more

The list of what's wrong with American health care is sickeningly long and increasingly familiar to millions.One in seven Americans, lacking insurance, foregoes needed care or receives treatment that's inadequate and expensive at overcrowded emergency rooms. Most of the cost is passed on to others.Those lucky enough to have insurance have seen their premiums double in a decade, while they get less for their money. Co-pays are up, reimbursement rates are down, and some top doctors… more

At a time when even entry-level jobs often require a bachelor's degree, hardly anyone disputes the importance of a college education. Even so, many parents and students struggle to understand why college costs so much...The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a Democratic plan to reduce the cost of borrowing for college. But easing student-loan interest rates won't provide much relief, critics say, unless lawmakers can somehow also slow the inexorable rise in the cost of college... more

While not a Slow City by design, Floyd, pop. 434, embodies much of the ideology that the Italian founders of the Città Lente (slow city in Italian) movement have been trying to get small towns around the world to embrace since 1999.

The idea applies in particular to cities bypassed by globalization. Rather than rely on age-old ways to spur the economy — more development and tax breaks for businesses that create jobs — towns are encouraged to stay small and… more

WASHINGTON — Divided government has been good for the federal budget deficit in the past, but both sides would have to compromise on core issues if budget problems are to be solved during the next two years.

That's the conclusion of budget experts and veterans of past deficit-reduction efforts, most of which succeeded because Democrats and Republicans took political risks together.

As the nation faces a $248 billion budget deficit and the prospect of paying out more and more in Medicare and… more

Having already gone after people with higher incomes through the federal tax code and the Social Security system, the government next year will begin charging wealthier seniors more for doctors' care under Medicare.

The Bush administration, members of Congress and outside experts are all looking at other ways to raise new revenue from the rich.

If taxes must be raised or benefits cut, "you… more