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CMS can improve investigation of Medicare fraud, says GAO
recent report on the Medicare Integrity Program by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that its contractors have generated savings but that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) could improve its oversight. “Given the vulnerability of the Medicare…
Annuities and Social Security: What retirees need to know
For retirement planners, two of the most common concerns among clients involve annuities and Social Security. We recently spoke with three top producers about how they handle both topics. Here’s their advice. Read more… Notice: The “Read more…” link…
Surviving Retirement: How Shirley Martin Stays Afloat
Preparing for retirement is daunting for anybody. Without an inheritance, a hefty pension or a 401K, it can be tough to just get by. Take Shirley Martin. She’s 72, she lives in Desoto and she’s struggling to make ends meet. One…
Self-employed individuals still need to save for retirement
The self-employed can be their own worst enemies when it comes to retirement planning. About 40 percent of self-employed Americans are not saving regularly for retirement, compared with 12 percent of those who work for others, according to a TD Ameritrade Inc. survey…
Mark Halperin’s epic fail: Actually, nuclear option will save Medicare
When Harry Reid invoked the “nuclear option” last week to permanently prohibit filibustering judicial and executive branch nominees (SCOTUS excepted) he invited a brief surge of ritualistic navel gazing by a class of political pundits who also tend to spend…
Social Security for the Life-Cycle
As Congress nears the month-long mark of budget negotiations, a recent poll by Public Policy Polling found that voters in key swing states and districts both overwhelmingly oppose reducing social security and support expanding the long-time federal social insurance program. The findings,…
Who will buy Social Security for Gen Y?
The Great Recession of 2007 had a number of significant effects on Generation Y, but one of the least talked about was its effect on birth rates. Whether due to stress, financial issues or simply because it’s tough to find…
Medicare Advantage: How It Works
Medicare Advantage is a segment of the federal government’s Medicare program and provides health coverage for Americans 65 and over, as well as those with disabilities. Like the federally administered version of Medicare (known as Original Medicare), Medicare Advantage covers basic medical expenses like doctor and hospital visits.…
More than 10.1 says million paid disability last year
More than 10.1 million people were paid disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program in 2012, 2.5 percent of whom were disabled widows or widowers. According to the most recent report from the Social Security Administration, awards to 960,206 disabled…
Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Study on 2014 Medicare Advantage
Kaiser’s study found small rate increases for 2014 and a (proportionally) small number of disenrollments in 2014. Approximately a half a million Medicare beneficiaries will need to switch plans in 2014, or about 5% of all those enrolled in MA.…