The Social Security Administration recently announced that the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will raise benefits by 2.8% for 2019. The average retirement benefit of $1,400 will increase by $39.20 per month, to ...
Daily Archives: November 7, 2018
Medicare Part D Coverage Gap Closes In 2019
While little progress was made this year to lower overall drug costs, some changes made by the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 are helping an estimated 5 million Medicare beneficiaries with the highest annual out-of- ...
Rx for Surprise Medical Bills?
By Mary Johnson, editor After 44-year old Drew Calver had a heart attack last year, his health plan paid nearly $56,000 for a four-day emergency stay in a hospital that was not in his insurance plan’s network. The ho ...
Benefit Bulletin: November 2018
When You Can’t Afford Your Prescription Drugs, Apply For “Extra Help” We’ve heard stories about cutting back on prescriptions over the years, but recently I heard one about a diabetic who was forced to cut back on the ...
Legislative Update: November 2018
Long Lines at Social Security Offices and What We Can do to Shorten Them By Jessie Gibbons, Legislative Director If you’ve been to a Social Security field office in the past few years, you’ve noticed longer wait ti ...
Congressional Corner: Congress Has an Obligation to Seniors
By Representative Debbie Lesko (AZ-8) Since 1935 and 1965, Social Security and Medicare have been, and continue to be, essential for senior citizens of the United States. More than 60 million Americans are currently e ...
Best Ways To Save: November 2018
Tax Planning? Medical Expense Deduction Becomes Less Generous in 2019 Although there’s a new higher standard deduction for U.S. taxpayers this year, tax professionals are cautioning taxpayers against automatically ta ...
Ask the Advisor: November 2018
Can You Tell Me About Programs That Help Older Homeowners With Taxes? Q: I’ve heard there are programs that allow older homeowners to get help with property taxes. Can you tell me anything about these? A: Fo ...
Q &A: November 2018
What Can You Tell Me About Retroactive Social Security Benefits? Q: I’m turning 65 soon, and I’m not employed since I was caring for my husband who recently passed away. I inherited our home and two retirement accoun ...
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