medicare
Dealing With Hypocrisy: A Rebuttal to Complaints About Medicare Premiums and WEP/GPO
Creators Syndicates’ Tom Margenau, in a post on Tucson.com, uses his extensive experience as a Social Security Administration official to address two fundamental (and frequently recurring) complaints voiced by program beneficiaries questioning rulers that, in their opinion, are unjust. Margenau…
The current Medicare Advantage payment structure results in overpayments
Current research states that the millions of beneficiaries in traditional Medicare who have switched to Medicare Advantage plans have lower spending than those with similar health risks. Why is this important? CMS bases payments to Medicare Advantage health plans on…
Candidate Haley Advocates for Retirement Age Setbacks, Benefit Trimming for the Wealthy
The long road to the 2024 presidential election is now being traveled by a host of hopefuls, so it’s logical to expect an outpouring of viewpoints on key issues and, equally logical, to expect Social Security reform to be one…
Ask Rusty – I’m Approaching 65 – Should I Claim Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am fast approaching 65 (in August) and plan to continue working full time. I would like to know the implications of that, and about drawing Social Security. Same question for my husband who is past his full…
Understanding Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Seniors approaching–or, already at–Medicare eligibility are often bombarded by ads, promotions, “advice,” and general conversation about the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. It happens every year at Annual Enrollment time, causing many senors to wonder what their…
Are the Perils of “Wokeness” Overshadowing Concerns for Social Security?
Good question. A poll of Republican primary voters conducted by Wall Street Journal during the week of April 11-17, 2023 suggests that might be the case, with more than half of the participants suggesting that “Fighting woke ideology in our…
Medicare for You: What You Need to Know Part 2
By Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Did you know you can save money on Medicare costs this year? The Inflation Reduction Act which President Biden signed into law in August 2022 will help you save money…
Medicare for You: What You Need to Know Part 1
By Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Your health is important and needs to be protected. If you are 65 or older, or have certain disabilities, or End-Stage Renal Disease, you can get health care coverage through the…
Medicare and Social Security are the two largest federal government programs
Mandatory outlays by the federal government totaled $4.1 trillion in 2022; nearly half was for Social Security and Medicare. However, most people are not aware of the details of these two programs. Romina Boccia and Dominik Lett created a fact…
A call for “common sense” reforms to Social Security
Former vice president Mike Pence, a likely 2024 presidential contender, is advocating for “common sense reforms” to Social Security and Medicare. Speaking to university students, “if we act in this moment with the support of this generation, we can introduce…