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GAO analysts eye Medigap effects
Holders of Medicare supplement insurance who said they had health problems spent an average of about $30,000 on care in 2010. The ailing Medigap holders spent about 2.5 times as much on care that year as consumers who said they had…
Where is our nation’s fiscal situation heading? – U.S. Rep. JOHN SHIMKUS
In the wake of my vote to end the government shutdown/debt-ceiling debate, I want to share my thoughts on our nation’s fiscal situation as we move forward. Bigger than our fight over Obamacare is our coming showdown over our nation’s fiscal…
Why 65 is too young to retire
The magical age 65 that signaled retirement time for our parents might not hold true for the baby boomer generation. Sure, the idea is appealing to call it quits before we are too old to appreciate and enjoy our second act.…
The Road from Here: What About Medicare and Social Security?
As the Bob Dylan song says: “Things should start to get interesting right about now.” You may think they’re already interesting – what with government closings, threats of a debt default, and extremist rhetoric under the Capitol Dome – but chances are…
Democrats consider cuts to Social Security while America’s CEOs take jumbo salaries
Congressional Democrats and the White House have reportedly indicated willingness to agree to cuts to entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare for retirees, as part of a comprehensive budget deficit reduction plan under talks that were part of last week’s…
Can Working Too Much Cut Your Social Security Benefits?
Making a smart choice about when to take Social Security is crucial, as your decision can affect your finances for the rest of your life. But some people don’t realize that if they take early Social Security benefits before they…
Will Your 2013 Social Security Benefits Be Taxed?
Knowing when Social Security benefits are taxable can be confusing, and many taxpayers leave it to their CPA or tax-preparation software to let them know if they were taxed on Social Security income in a given tax year. In reality,…
Why Democrats Might Cave On Social Security Cuts
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Sunday opened the door to Social Security cuts as part of a budget deal with congressional Republicans. But Durbin pushed back against GOP calls for entitlement cuts as the negotiating price to curb or extinguish…
Brand-name drugs drive Medicare costs
Connecticut seniors on Medicare are more likely to take sedatives for insomnia and medications for depression than their counterparts across the country, according to a new report by Dartmouth researchers. An analysis of state data in a national report by the Dartmouth Atlas…
SOCIAL SECURITY: You’ve just stepped into … the retirement zone
You are about to enter another dimension — a dimension not only of work and earnings, but of pension and leisure, a journey into a wondrous land of imagination. You unlock this door with Social Security’s Retirement Estimator and online…