medicare
Ask Rusty – Help! Social Security Reduced my Monthly Payment
Dear Rusty: My last Social Security payment decreased by about $400, so I went to my online SS account and found a November 2025 letter explaining that my 2024 tax return showed a greatly enlarged AGI (Adjusted Gross Income). Thus, SSA decided to…
Pre-approval of some procedures being piloted by Medicare
A significant advantage of so-called “original Medicare” is that pre-approval for most medical procedures is not normally required, as is often the case for many medical procedures under private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Indeed, this is frequently the very reason…
Ask Rusty – My Friend is 65; shouldn’t she be exempt from Medicare payroll taxes?
Dear Rusty: My girlfriend is 65 and she just enrolled in Medicare. She is still working full time as a nurse, but they are still deducting Medicare taxes from her paycheck. I thought as soon as you started Medicare, that…
On Medicare? Here’s what you need to know for 2026
“The good, the bad, and the ugly” – and no, we’re not talking about the classic Clint Eastwood movie of the same name. Rather, this Nasdaq article is referring to Medicare changes in 2026, and you’ll likely find some good…
Look out for the “IRMAA Trap” if you are close to going on Medicare!
The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) catches many retirees off guard. It takes Social Security almost two years to get your tax return, meaning that your Medicare Part B and D premiums are based on income from two years prior.…
The Cost of Medicare Part B Should Be Part of Your Retirement Plan
The cost of Medicare Part B has been rising steadily for several years. If you are 65 years old and on Medicare, the premium is deducted directly from your Social Security benefit. The cost of Medicare Part B costs is…
Don’t miss this chance to change plans
The Medicare Advantage open enrollment period runs from January 1st through March 31, 2026. If you missed your chance during Medicare open enrollment, you can now switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). Or, you can…
MA payments are $76 billion above FFS Medicare
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are funded primarily through fixed monthly payments from Medicare, based on the expected healthcare costs of enrolled beneficiaries. According to a recent report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), in 2026, “Medicare Advantage payments are…
“Medical Marijuana” not covered by Medicare Advantage
“Cannabis” products have become increasingly popular in recent years, and some physicians now suggest using products often referred to as “medical marijuana.” Increasingly, doctors seem prone to prescribing the use of these products, often when all other medical procedures for…
“IRMAA” may make you pay more for Medicare this year
“IRMAA” is an acronym for the “Income -Related Monthly Adjustment Amount” – a somewhat obscure Medicare rule which catches many seniors by surprise. IRMAA affects those who are on Medicare and who have a higher taxable income from two years…