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Can an older woman find work in Hollywood?
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No Caption - photo by Mandy Morgan
Madonna had her glory days. But the popular entertainer who turns 57 in August is far from finished.

Madonna is one star who has been fighting ageism or age discrimination for years. "The subject of her advancing years dominates seemingly every conversation about her, as she has become a crusader, willingly or not, against age discrimination," wrote Jancee Dunn for the New York Times, after the release of her new music video in June.

So, is Madonna's fight to keep a vibrant and active image paying off, despite her age?

Her sold-out shows, record-breaking views of on-air shows and most-watched performances after hitting 50, according to Huffington Post, indicate she's winning. The bigger battle against discrimination may be in the film industry for women of all ages.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, a 37-year-old actress and Oscar nominee, told The Wrap Magazine in May that she was told that she was "too old to play the lover of a man who was 55."

Age discrimination with women cast as romantic roles has become a particularly prominent problem in Hollywood. It is older women (meaning those above 30) who often won't be paired with men of any age.

Many women in the film industry have publicly stated that offers for leading roles stop coming in as they get to the age of 40 or above, or that they are expected to back out of the lime-light in Hollywood, as reported by CNN.

Alleged ageism isn't the only issue involving women in Hollywood.

"Hollywood has come under severe scrutiny for the persistently low number of leading roles for women in the movies, and the ACLU recently requested that state and federal agencies investigate Hollywood studios, networks and talent agencies over gender discrimination," The Wrap reported in May.

The investigations will not only look at actresses, but women in any capacity of the industry.

In a study by San Diego State University's Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, it was found that women made up only 17 percent of directors, writers, executive producers, producers, editors and cinematographers who worked on the top 250 films of 2014.

However, Gyllenhaal is not despairing for women, the Wrap reported.

"A lot of actresses are doing incredible work right now, playing real women, complicated women. I don't feel despairing at all," she said. "And I'm more looking with hope for something fascinating."
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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