medicare
Ask Rusty – Must I Set Up a Social Security Account to Enroll in Medicare?
Dear Rusty: I turn 65 this November 2026. Someone told me I need to set up a Social Security account at least 3 months ahead of time before applying for Medicare for the first time. I do not intend to…
Social Security: Looking Ahead to 2027
As most of us know, annual changes to Social Security are inevitable, some of which are good and some of which may take a bit more out of your pocket. This Motley Fool article by Christy Bieber discusses several SS…
What is the True American Retirement Age?
What do most people think of as America’s “retirement age?” Many think that it is age 62, because that is when you can first claim Social Security benefits. Others consider 65 to be the official “retirement age,” for two reasons…
Retirement: Life (and Surprises) in the “End Zone”
After marching downfield for the length of a career, many retirees find that the turf in the end zone isn’t as welcoming or comfortable as they had hoped. Sorry to use a sports metaphor here, but it seems appropriate to…
The offset to COLA increases
Nearly 22 million seniors get by on Social Security alone. This makes the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) a mechanism to ensure that Social Security benefits maintain their purchasing power in the face of inflation. The COLA for 2026…
Is Medicare Advantage the best option for you?
Medicare Advantage plans provide an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans often bundle Part D prescription drug coverage and may include additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental, vision, hearing, or wellness programs. But are they the…
Medicare to provide broader drug coverage in April
As of 2025, approximately 68.9 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare. Medicare continues to serve as the primary health insurance program for older adults and certain younger individuals with disabilities in the U.S. Medicare is not a static program; it…
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…