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Hospitals attack insurance ‘skinny plans’ as too thin
Some employers are building health insurance policies that are technically compliant with the healthcare reform law, yet don’t include coverage of inpatient hospital services. Backers of such plans contend that some coverage is better than none, especially for workers in…
Social Security wants new outreach channels
The Social Security Administration is looking to modernize its interaction with the public. SSA can authenticate user accounts online via its mySocialSecurity website. So far, more than 14 million users have registered. Now SSA wants to develop new pathways to engage those users,…
The high cost of Obama’s jobless recovery
At the height of the Great Recession, by December 2009, 8.4 million jobs were lost. It has taken six years to recover to the 146.4 million January 2008 pre-downturn jobs level. Today, 146.6 million people have jobs, according to data…
Raise Pay for Home-Care Aides? Disability-Rights Groups Say No Way
Republicans crowed in early October when the Department of Labor said it planned to hold off enforcing a new regulation requiring home-care workers who look after elderly and disabled people to be paid minimum wage, overtime, and travel time. “The…
Social Security wage base increases to $118,500 for 2015
The Social Security Administration has announced that the wage base for computing the Social Security tax in 2015 will increase to $118,500 from $117,000, which was the wage base for 2014. For 2015, the FICA tax rate for employers is 7.65%…
Social Security, veterans benefits to get 1.7 percent bump
Social Security recipients, retired federal employees and disabled veterans will see their checks increase by 1.7 percent at the start of the new year. The cost of living adjustment, announced yesterday, translates to about $22 more each month for the average…
Sanders ‘disappointed’ in small Social Security benefit increase
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blasted the 1.7 percent increase in Social Security benefits, saying it isn’t enough to help seniors cover high prescription drug prices. “At a time when the prices of prescription drugs and electricity are skyrocketing, I am disappointed…
Social security strategies
Most people think that claiming social security is a simple retirement decision; but not so fast there are some strategies that can help boost a married couple’s retirement saving with thousands of dollars of additional income. Read more, watch video……
2,610 Hospitals Facing Medicare Payment Cuts for Excessive Readmissions
More than 2,600 hospitals will see cuts to their Medicare payments this fiscal year for excessive patient readmissions. That’s 433 more than last year. The inclusion of elective hip and knee replacement procedures under the federal insurer’s scrutiny is a…
Schumer proposes bill to prevent expelled Nazi war criminals from receiving Social Security benefits
Three days after an Associated Press investigation revealed that millions of dollars in Social Security benefits have been paid to Nazis expelled from the U.S., U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer has put forth a bill that would close the loophole and prohibit…