Rising Medicare Premiums a Threat to Social Security
Medicare premiums are slated to rise 50 percent next year for one third of beneficiaries. This is a threat to Social Security because it could force many retirees into applying for early benefits. This would affectively be a double blow to Social Security Benefits, not only would they being paying more out of their fixed income, but by receiving benefits early they will relinquish the ability to grow their monthly benefits by waiting to start receiving. Retirees are now entitled to wait well past the set retirement age in order to accrue a higher monthly benefit, being forced in to taking these benefits early is robbing them of that right. Howard Gleckman has more to say on this subject in this article with Forbes.