seniors
Medicare Open Enrollment & the Government Shutdown
As many already know, Medicare’s annual “open enrollment” period started on October 15th and will run through December 7th. This is the annual period when you can make changes to your healthcare coverage by switching from “original Medicare” to a…
Demystifying Your Social Security Benefit
Your Social Security Benefit Winston Churchill famously described the Soviet Union as “a riddle inside an enigma wrapped in a mystery.” That is also an apt way to describe your Social Security benefit, or so it seems when trying to…
COLA and You!
In mid-October every year, we learn what our Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be for the upcoming year. For most seniors, their Social Security payment is a major source of income, and COLA is applied to your SS monthly…
Ask Rusty – Do I Need to Sign Up for an Online Social Security Account?
Dear Rusty: I recently I heard the tail end of a radio program which was discussing “signing up for my Social Security account.” I am now 76 years old and have been receiving my SSA monthly amount directly into a…
Medicare Advantage is changing for many!
“Medicare Advantage,” also known as “Medicare Part C,” will undergo some significant changes for 2026. Thus if you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to do your due diligence as the new year approaches! Medicare Annual Open Enrollment,…
Medicare “Open Enrollment” is now – Here’s how to save money!
The annual Medicare “Open Enrollment period is upon us, starting on October 15th and running through December 7th. This is the time of the year when you can change your Medicare coverage, and it is the best time to evaluate…
The Medicare Plan Finder portal contains errors
The Medicare Plan Finder portal contains errors and conflicting information that could lead the individual to sign up for the wrong plan. Why does this pose a problem? The Medicare annual open enrollment season currently runs from October 15th through…
Another day, another Social Security scam
Did you receive a personalized letter signed by Chief Justice John Robetrs and Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor? If so, it is a scam according to the Social Security Administration’s office of the Inspector General. The letter warns the…
Going back to the basics
Many people are afraid of cuts to Medicare and Social Security. According to a new survey by NerdWallet, 70 percent of Medicare recipients are concerned that their benefits will be reduced in their lifetime. “When you have worries like this,…
It is time to optimize your coverage
Medicare premiums in 2026 are increasing to an estimated Part B premium of $206.50, according to the latest Medicare Trustees report. One of the largest year-over-year increases in a very long time. So, what is the Medicare recipient to do?…