COVID-19 hospitalization rates continue to rise as the U.S. prepares another round of boosters. To help you understand what is going on in the healthcare sector and what we expect to happen in the future, our highly experienced Kiplinger Letter team will keep you abreast of the latest developments and forecasts (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Letter or subscribe). You'll get all the latest news first by subscribing, but we will publish many (but not all) of the forecasts a few days afterward online. Here’s the latest…
An uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations should not concern most people. But it’s increasingly a worry for the elderly. Since the pandemic has eased, the number of cases that wind up in the hospital is the best way to gauge the severity of what is left.
On July 5, 2023, the daily COVID-19 hospitalization rate hit its lowest level: 0.6 per 100,000 cases. By Sep. 2, it had ticked up to 1.3, a daily increase of 2,300. The trend is more pronounced for those over age 70, whose hospitalization rate has more than doubled to 6.3. COVID deaths have not yet risen but will likely follow suit.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The true test of the pandemic’s resilience will be this winter when people are indoors together much of the time. Except for those over the age of 70, chances are that any mini-surge in infections will be only a nuisance. The Omicron variant that has pushed out other iterations of the virus has proved much less deadly.
A new booster targeting the latest versions of Omicron will be available in late September or early October and should be taken at least five months after the last bivalent booster.
This forecast first appeared in The Kiplinger Letter, which has been running since 1923 and is a collection of concise weekly forecasts on business and economic trends, as well as what to expect from Washington, to help you understand what’s coming up to make the most of your investments and your money. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Letter.
Related Content
-
Focus on These Five Critical Areas in Retirement PlanningWorried about how you'll pay for your retirement? It can help to structure your finances around five key areas: taxes, income, medical, legacy and investments.
-
Is Downsizing Right for Your Retirement?The lower costs of a smaller home in retirement might sound appealing, but be ready for the trade-offs that come with making this big decision.
-
Aging in Place Will Be Big Business for Home BuildersThe Kiplinger Letter Many people will be looking to make their homes aging-friendly in the years to come.
-
Five Ways to Fund Medicare Part AThe Tax Letter Higher taxes can help stave off the projected 2036 insolvency of Medicare's Hospital Insurance trust fund.
-
QCDs Are a Tax-Smart Way for Retirees To Donate to CharityThe Tax Letter With QCDs, retirees can save on taxes by making donations from their IRAs directly to charity. Here's what you need to know about qualified charitable distributions.
-
Tax Tips for Transferring Excess 529 Plan Funds to Roth IRAs: The Tax LetterThe Tax Letter 529 plans can help blunt the cost of paying for college. But if you want to use leftover funds there are some tax tips to bear in mind.
-
How to Report QCDs on Your Tax Return: The Tax LetterThe Tax Letter Qualified charitable distributions, otherwise known as QCDs, can be tricky when it comes to tax reporting. We've got some pointers to help with filing.
-
What to Know Before Splitting 401(k) Assets in a Divorce: The Tax LetterThe Tax Letter Splitting 401(k) assets in a divorce can lead to unintended tax consequences, there are ways to avoid financial penalties.
-
IRA Rollover Rules: What You Need to KnowTax Letter Three important IRA rollover rules to remember. As always, getting taxes wrong can be costly.
-
Retirement Savings Changes for 2024Tax Letter Some of the SECURE 2.0 retirement savings provisions kicked in this year. Others are still to come. Here's what you should know.
