Latest News
Long-Term Unfunded Liabilities for Medicare and Social Security Reach $49 Trillion
The Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees’ 2014 report shows that Medicare and Social Security, the most popular government programs in the U.S., have reached nearly $49 trillion in long-term unfunded liabilities. This equates to a liability of more…
The service-connected disability benefit
This week I would like to tell you about the service-connected disability benefit and how you may qualify for it. Let’s begin at the beginning: When should you apply for the service-connected disability benefit? There is no mandatory time frame…
For geezers and millennials alike, Social Security must be secured
We are likely entering a generational conflict. The fight over Social Security is going to be portrayed as greedy geezers vs. meanie millennials. We must not allow this battle to proceed. We must be smarter as a society. Today, more than 50…
Almost 20 percent of people near retirement age have no retirement savings
One in five people who are near retirement age have zero money saved. Yes, you read that correctly. The sobering statistic was one of many released by the Federal Reserve on Thursday as part of its report on the economic well-being of…
Another Attempt To Expand Medicare Coverage For Telemedicine
Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives are not giving up on expanding Medicare coverage for telemedical services. In 2012, Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) introduced legislation amending Title VIII of the Social Security Act with sweeping changes that would allow…
OPM finally finishes ‘phased retirement’ rules for federal workers
The Office of Personnel Management on Thursday released the final rules for a much-anticipated “phased retirement” program for federal workers, saying agencies can begin processing applications in November. The move comes more than two years after Congress passed a law approving the option, which…
Don’t Forget Social Security in Divorce
Typically, the first set of financial tasks when getting a divorce is to compile documents and other information. This is often a stressful time and can lead to some assets being overlooked or forgotten. Below are tips that offer some…
Medicare sets final rule on 2015 payments, penalties
On Tuesday CMS issued its final rule on FY 2015 inpatient hospital payment and penalty rates. CMS is proposing a 1.4% payment increase for acute care hospitals and a 0.9% raise for long-term care hospitals. The maximum Medicare penalty stemming from the Hospital…
Think the National Debt Is Large? Well, the Entitlements Deficit Is Even Bigger
Long-term unfunded obligations in Medicare and Social Security alone reached nearly $49 trillion, according to the 2014 report from the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees. That’s nearly three times the size of the total national debt of $17.6 trillion, or more than…
Social Security Turns Down Lots Of 100% Disabled Vets
Below is a chart labeled “Allowance rates for first DI applications filed by veterans after receiving VA disability ratings of 100% or IU during fiscal years 2000–2006, by VA rating and SSA primary diagnosis body system and selected diagnostic categories.”…