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Medicare Part D Spending for 10 Selected Diabetes Drugs
There has been a substantial increase in the use of certain diabetes drugs in recent years. Certain diabetes drugs initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help control blood sugar levels for individuals with type 2 diabetes…
The benefits of eliminating these taxes vary by income level
Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) reintroduced the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act, H.R. 1040. This bill assists seniors by exempting Social Security benefits from federal taxation. What will this bill mean to Social Security recipients? Kailey Hagen explains how and who…
What to do if you owe taxes
Although Congress and President Trump have pushed to eliminate the federal taxes on Social Security benefits, the tax laws are still on the books. What happens if you owe taxes on your Social Security benefits and cannot pay? Kailey Hagen…
Some SSA employees offered reassignment (with conditions)
There is little doubt the the Trump Administration’s new initiative to streamline the federal government, with the new DOGE (Dept. of Government Efficiency) as the lead agency, has caused a fair amount of angst among government employees. To this point,…
Rural Hospitals Suffer as Medicare Advantage Plans Prosper
Medicare Advantage plans are private healthcare insurance plans which replace “original government provided Medicare,” and which are increasing popular. The reason for that popularity is that, for little or no additional cost, Medicare Advantage plans often provide additional coverage for…
Can I get Both SS Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
“SSDI” is Social Security’s Disability Insurance program specifically designed to protect Americans who become disabled and unable to work for at lease one year. “SSI” is a Supplemental Security Income program designed to provide assistance to needy Americans, including those…
Rethinking Retirement
If you read the news at all, you are almost certainly aware that America has a “retirement problem.” That is, most Americans are woefully unprepared for their retirement, and likely have no plan in place to correct that issue. To…
Prior Authorizations for Medicare Advantage have surged
Medicare Advantage is offered by private insurers and provides replacement private healthcare coverage for those eligible for “original Medicare.” These private Advantage plans often offer healthcare coverage equal to original Medicare, but often enhanced by additional services such as dental,…
SSA Press Release re DOGE
The newly appointed Acting Commissioner of Social Security (Lee Dudek) has issued a press release which addresses issues recently raised in the media about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As you may be aware, the DOGE is currently reviewing…
10 Things to Know About Medicaid
Medicaid accounts for one-fifth of health care spending, more than half of spending for long-term care, and a large share of state budgets. Medicaid is jointly financed by states and the federal government but administered by states within broad federal…