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Medicare Advantage plan Prior Authorizations often delay critical Cancer treatments
Through very aggressive marketing, Medicare Advantage plan enrollments have grown exponentially in recent years, with now over half of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. FYI, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are offered by private insurance companies as…
Is Social Security “Broke Beyond Belief?”
According to a self-described “retirement planning evangelist” the American Social Security program is “broke beyond belief” and may not be able to pay full benefits as soon as 2034. That, of course, is a rather harsh, yet understandable, description of…
How Medicare options can affect your healthcare budget.
Medicare options need to be explored before you make any decision beyond original Medicare, which is Part A (hospitalization) and Part B (healthcare). You need to be aware there could be a penalty for not signing up for Medicare during…
When do Americans typically take Social Security benefits?
Americans take Social Security benefits anytime between age 62 to age 70. Exactly when you should start is a personal decision depending on your individual situation. Also, it’s interesting to see what the average benefit is at different ages. Many…
Let’s take a look at Social Security overpayment rule changes.
When a person has been overpaid by Social Security the law requires the agency to seek repayment. Social Security had a 100% withholding rate for an overpayment being made to a recipient, this policy has been changed to reduce the…
Is your Social Security income taxable?
Wondering if your Social Security income is taxable? Or if you have to file a tax return? This article by Maite Knorr-Evans explains several scenarios to help you determine what the answers to those questions are for your situation. Read…
Changing how COLA is calculated
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced the bill “Under the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act (S. 3974), which would change the calculation of the yearly Social Security cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) by switching from the Consumer Price Index Urban Wage…
You might enjoy a really nice benefit if…
What is the maximum benefit you can collect if you retire this year? If you are turning 70 this year and filing for the first time for Social Security, you could collect a monthly benefit of $4,873. However, not everyone…
Time is Ticking for Social Security
As insolvency looms closer every day, millions of Americans may face a cut to the income foundational to their retirement plan. A number of proposals for a solution are floating about but none seem to be making an impact on…
The newest COLA estimate
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the March 2024 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.5 percent over the last 12 months. Based on this announcement, the Senior Citizens League has estimated the cost-of-living…