Healthcare Costs
The true cost of health care
Let’s face it, Medicare will not cover all your health care needs in retirement. Plus, there is a cost associated with it. Suze Orman, financial expert, says many Americans underestimate this critical cost in retirement. What is it? Moneywise outlines…
The future of Medicare Advantage extra benefits
In 2025, more than 54 percent, or 34.1 million seniors, are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Many seniors choose a Medicare Advantage plan for the extra benefits that are not available with traditional Medicare. Those extras can include dental,…
The rising cost of health care for Medicare beneficiaries
The cost of health care for Medicare beneficiaries is rising. A recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 7 million Medicare beneficiaries spent more than 10 percent of their annual income on Medicare Part B premiums in 2024.…
Prevention is cheaper in the end
In 2023, the average retiree household incurs approximately $21,400 in annual healthcare costs, with many retirees facing costs of $43,500 or higher. While there is no crystal ball to predict exactly what you will spend on healthcare in retirement, there…
What does Medicare-approved amount mean?
Do you know the difference between what your provider bills Medicare and the amount paid by Medicare? It is called the Medicare-approved amount. The Medicare-approved amount is the total payment that Medicare has agreed to pay a health care provider…
How to lower healthcare costs
The cost of the U.S. healthcare system has ballooned to $4 trillion a year. Although the number of heart-related deaths remains the same, chronic heart disease has exploded. Insurance paid out $35 billion for weight-loss drugs, while it pays nothing…
Healthcare costs in retirement
The cost of healthcare can be challenging at any age; however, in retirement, potential healthcare needs and out-of-pocket costs could narrow your options when it comes time to pay the bills. The Jackson National Life Insurance company released a new…
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…
Medicare costs are going up next year
Like most things, Medicare costs are going up next year. Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles will increase, along with Part B premiums. In 2025, Medicare placed a cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. What other changes are taking…
Will your COLA increase keep up with your healthcare costs?
Social Security beneficiaries will see an increase in their Social Security checks of 3.2 percent in 2024. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers…