seniors
Medicare boosts reimbursement rates; good news for insurers
Shares for U.S. health insurers went up on the stock market yesterday, based on an announcement by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that they will raise reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage plans starting in 2026. This is…
Clarifying the Social Security “dead people getting benefits” claim
With a great deal of fanfare, the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) implied that many obviously dead people over 120 years of age were receiving Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration has issued a clarification which disputes that…
Inside the “Iron Mountain”
“Iron Mountain” refers to an actual limestone mine repurposed 65 years ago to house records about Government employees and retirees. It is a behemoth of an underground facility housing over 400 million paper records of the Government’s Office of Personnel…
Social Security is changing; but how?
Social Security sure has been in the media spotlight recently, with many accounts predicting benefit cuts, and some even predicting the demise of the program. Of course, most of that is hyperbolic nonsense, but what is the real situation with…
Social Security promise – broken, or not?
During the recent election cycle, all candidates promised that Social Security “would not be touched.” That included President Trump, who committed that he would not “touch” Social Security. But with the recent events associated with the Department of Government Efficiency…
Ten Tips for Retirement Planning
Although it is sometimes difficult to think about a retirement far into the future, doing so is an important decision, and the earlier you plan, the better your retirement outcome will be. Still, it’s hard to predict how to balance…
Ask Rusty – Will My Social Security Increase if I Keep Working After Applying?
Dear Rusty: I am going to be 67 in a few weeks & I plan on working for another year or two. According to Social Security, they count the best 35 years to come up with your benefit. I currently…
What to do when the Stock Market declines
If you’re been watching the stock market at all these days, you are already aware of the quite severe decline which has occurred as a result of President Trump’s tariff announcements. Any decline in the market can be stressful for…
Who is enrolling in Medicare Advantage?
The creation of Medicare Advantage health plans was part of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Medicare Advantage grew from almost zero in 1998 to 33.8 million subscribers in 2024, or 55 percent of Medicare recipients. One reason Medicare recipients enroll…
Medicare penalties
Medicare Penalty refers to the additional costs imposed for not enrolling in Medicare or its components (like Part D) during the designated enrollment periods. Understanding how these penalties are calculated and how long they last is essential to managing your…