medicare
Is Medigap worth the cost?
Medicare Supplemental Insurance, commonly referred to as Medigap, covers two out of ten Medicare recipients, according to the latest analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Medigap policies, sold by private insurance companies, cover Medicare Parts A and B cost-sharing requirements.…
Marriage and retirement
Most people think life after retirement is full of excitement and fun, endless golf games and pickleball. You can spend a lot of time with your spouse and cross things off your bucket list, but things can be otherwise if…
Did you hear about a Medicare Flex Card?
You may have heard the term Medicare Flex Card used in the recent Annual Open Enrollment, but what is it, and can I get one? First, the federal government does not issue these cards; it is a benefit available to…
Ask Rusty – How Can I Get Details about My Social Security Payment?
Dear Rusty: How do I find the actual breakdown of the Medicare insurance that I have auto deducted and my actual Social Security payment? I was just looking at a video which explained the 3% Cost of Living Adjustment we…
Medicare changes for the new year
January 1st is just around the corner, and many things will change, including Medicare. If you are a Medicare beneficiary or know someone who is, here are some of the changes for 2024. Bethany Cissell outlines the changes in Medicare…
What 2024 will look like for the average Social Security recipient
Beginning next month, over 64 million older Americans will see an increase in their Social Security benefits. The cost-of-living (COLA) increase of 3.2 percent is modest compared to last year’s 8.7 percent and a decrease in Medicare Part B premiums.…
Medicare expanding coverage
Congress has approved an expansion of mental health providers covered under the Medicare program. As of January 1, 2024, Medicare recipients can seek the services of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists. Previously, Medicare limited covered services to…
Candidate Desantis on Social Security: “Eligibility Requirements May Need to Change”
The Poynter Institute’s non-profit, nonpartisan fact-checking website Politifact came to the defense of presidential candidate Ron Desantis by rating a recent political ad “Mostly False” in its claim that the candidate “wants to cut Social Security and Medicare.” In a…
What the five GOP candidates said about raising the retirement age
During the 3rd Republican candidates’ debate, the third rail of American politics – Social Security- was discussed. The difference in the approach of the five attending candidates in solving the Social Security and Medicare insolvency issue was on display. The…
What to know about managing Medicare Part B premiums
In October, the Social Security Administration announced the 2024 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 3.2 percent, with the average Social Security benefit going up $50. Later, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 monthly Part B premium…