medicare
Ask Rusty – We Were Bitten by Medicare’s IRMAA this year; What Should I Do?
Dear Rusty: My wife and I file our taxes jointly. In 2024, I took an IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) which was significantly more than I was required to take. My Medicare premiums were not affected in 2025, and our…
“Medicare Advantage” plan participants experiencing disruption
“Medicare Advantage” plans are offered by private insurers and provide healthcare insurance coverage in lieu of traditional government-run Medicare plans (Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D). Long touted as somewhat of a healthcare panacea, Medicare Advantage plans have…
Stopping Medicare Fraud
Medicare, the nation’s premier healthcare program for American seniors, forms the basis of comfort in our golden years. Our health is increasingly important as we age, and Medicare provides a comfortable and stress-free sanctuary that almost all senior enjoy and…
Medicare Advantage and Prior Authorization
For information, “Medicare Advantage” refers to private healthcare insurance which replaces the traditional government-run healthcare program known as “original Medicare.” Medicare Advantage plans have recently been in the spotlight for their seemingly strong tendency to manage their corporate expenses by…
Congressional Budgeting Process Under Review
A bipartisan bill recently introduced in Congress would seek to improve Congress’s budget process while addressing the nation’s long-term fiscal challenges. The “Budgeting for a Better America Act (BBAA)” ( H.R. 9452 ) submitted by Representatives Steve Womack (R-AR), Ed…
Medicare Part D Subsidies Set to Expire at Year-End
Although the effect on out-of-pocket costs to enrollees is not yet announced, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced yesterday that the temporary Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration program implemented in 2024 will sunset at the end of…
More ways to lower the cost of medical care in retirement
One of the most reported expenses in retirement is the cost of healthcare. Fidelity says a 65-year-old retiring this year can expect to spend an average of $185,500 on health expenses through retirement. However, according to the actuarial and consulting…
Actions needed to reduce improper payment and fraud risks
Each year, the Office of Management and Budget identifies programs considered high priority for improper payments. In 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Care program and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Advantage program are…
Some recipients may see smaller gains in 2027
The Social Security Administration COLA is determined by comparing the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the third quarter of the current year to the same period in the previous year, and applying…
A Social Security Journey with “Ask Rusty” and the AMAC Foundation
The AMAC Foundation [1] is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and education of American seniors. “ Ask Rusty ” is the Foundation’s popular and nationally syndicated Social Security advice column. Here’s more about the AMAC Foundation’s journey and…