Latest News
Explaining the Relationship Between DRCs and Spousal Benefits
In response to a question, Retirement Weekly editor and regular USA Today contributor Robert Powell provides an analysis of the impact that Delayed Retirement Credits can have on spousal benefits. Essentially, the bottom line holds that DRCs do not increase the value…
Congressional Review Act Results in Reversal of Gun Ban for Some Social Security Recioients
The December, 2016 Obama Administration ruling that enabled the government to declare “some Social Security recipients unfit to own guns after they’ve been deemed mentally incapable of managing their financial affairs” has been struck down in a 57-43 Senate vote.…
CBO Explores Tax Change for Social Security Benefits
Large federal budget deficits are looming, no secret about that. And in exploring ways to deal with the problem, the Congressional Budget Office is taking a look at various ways to bolster revenue, and one has to do with changing…
“Hold Harmless” Explained
Yes, it’s confusing, and it takes some in depth explaining of the relationships between Social Security and Medicare. Journalist Philip Moeller, in response to several related questions, provides a measure of understanding. Read his article here…
Will Medical Care Outpace the Gross Domestic Product?
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expects the cost of medical care in the United States will grow at a faster clip over the next decade and overall health spending growth will outpace that of the gross…
Retirement Planning: Dealing With the Unknowns
Most people–as high as 8 out of 10–do not know what level of funding they’ll need for the totality of their retirement years. And that’s a result of compounding unknowns, beginning with the big on: how long you’ll live. CNBC…
Home and Community Based Care
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) are pushing legislation to give the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services the authority to test potential savings from offering home and community-based care to certain Medicare beneficiaries 65 and older. Read…
Things to think about when planning to file for Social Security
It’s a personal decision, of course, and there are pros and cons associated with deciding when to file. This article by Social Security manager Tammy Fluto Bemidji might help you get to a decision. Read it here… Notice: The link…
Dispelling Some Commonly-Held Beliefs
While the details associated with Social Security might be more extensive than most people realize, there are a few basics that everyone should know. And there are some basic misunderstandings, too, that everyone approaching Social Security needs to have clarified…
How Can We Increase The Use Of Palliative Care In Medicare?
(By Donald Taylor, Matthew Harker, Andrew Olson and Janet Bull for Health Affairs Blog, Posted February 13, 2017) Health Affairs by Project HOPE – The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc. In August, 2016, a 93-year-old woman—the grandmother of one of this…