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Congress Is Poised To Change Medicare Payment Policy. What Does That Mean For Patients And Doctors?
After years of legislative wrangling and last-minute patches, expectations are high among physician groups, lawmakers and Medicare beneficiaries that Congress could act this year to permanently replace the current Medicare physician payment formula. While committees in both chambers have approved…
Baby Boomers Get the Most from Social Security
By delaying their Social Security benefits, baby boomers can increase their payments, says Jeffrey Miller, a professor of economics emeritus at the University of Delaware. Workers born between 1943 and 1954 can receive full Social Security retirement benefits starting at…
Three Questions to Ask Before Taking Social Security
While there is no one single best strategy when it comes to claiming Social Security retirement benefits, a general rule would be to delay claiming benefits as long as possible. Social Security is the largest asset owned by most retiree…
Social Security: Declining Fertility Rate Threatens Finances
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released its 2012 data on births, indicating detrimental trends that could cast yet another blow to the already daunting fiscal future of Social Security. The year 2012 marked the fifth straight year of declining fertility rates…
Controlling the Cash: Smartly Planning and Managing Retirement Income
While the average American would relish the prospect of complete control over their cash flow, most retirees living off their savings would say such responsibility is more overwhelming and nerve-racking than empowering. And as millions of baby boomers begin retiring without the pensions of yesterday,…
Planning for Social Security if you are a woman
I get this question a lot—should I wait to take my Social Security at age 70? Although, I get this one almost as often—should I start my Social Security benefits at age 62 so I don’t lose money if I die early/Social…
Medicare Overhaul Considered For Chronic Care
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing a new approach to health care aimed at avoiding hospital stays for older people, when possible. Under what the group is calling the Better Care Program, teams of doctors, nurses and social workers would…
Most vigilant retirement savers live in North America and Asia-Pacific
A higher percentage of investors in North America and the Asia-Pacific are saving for retirement than in other regions of the world, according to a global survey conducted by Nielsen. Out of 30,000 people surveyed worldwide for the Nielsen Global Survey…
Target breach extends to Social Security debit card holders
The Target security breach may just be the tip of the iceberg. It now appears it’s also affecting those who collect Social Security. When you qualify for Social Security you receive a pre-loaded debit card. It allows users to pay bills,…
Take Advantage of Disenrollment and Special Enrollment Periods for Medicare Advantage Plans
As we begin the New Year, SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, wants to remind North Carolinians about two special enrollment periods for people who have Medicare Advantage plans. The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment period runs from Jan. 1 through…