To say that Social Security and Medicare are important to the financial well being of seniors would be an understatement. Sixty two percent of eligible beneficiaries rely on Social Security income for more than half of their income. And, almost everyone who is eligible uses Medicare to help fund their healthcare after 65. So, any…
Medicare and Health Insurance News, Information and Guidance
The more things change, the more they stay the same. In response to privacy concerns about the old Medicare cards that included your Social Security number on them, Medicare is in the process of issuing new Medicare cards. The new cards have a new number, but not much else is changing. Your wallet will hopefully…
Saving money is hard enough. No one wants more bills to pay, especially when you’re on a fixed or limited income.But insurance is something of a necessary evil. And certain insurance plans can help you live out your golden years as worry-free as possible — a worthy investment in your well-deserved break from workaday reality….
A Health Savings Account or HSA is a medical savings account that is attached to a high deductible health insurance plan. It can be a savvy way to save money by reducing your overall medical spending. It can also have compelling retirement savings benefits. Money can be deferred into an HSA account on a pre-tax…
Tis the season… No, it is not quite time to decide whether you’ll say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Bah Humbug or none of the above. It does, however, involve shopping! The 2018 Medicare Open Enrollment season is upon us and will last from from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Now is the time to to…
The recent nationwide debate about whether or not Medicaid should continue to receive funding should have had special resonance for people of retirement age. Here are 9 things you might not know about Medicaid and your chances of needing it in the future: 1. You Have a High Percentage Chance of Winding Up on Medicaid…
Knowing you are eligible for Medicare at age 65 may give you some peace of mind about retirement health care costs, but you may be surprised to find out that you’ll still be paying a lot out of pocket. While Medicare premiums are fairly predictable, tests and procedures and that aren’t covered, unexpected health crises,…
Medicare is the de facto healthcare for most retirees. You are eligible when you turn 65. While most people like the program, it is quite complex and everything from baseline premiums to supplemental coverage and other details can change from year to year. The changes made thus far offer somewhat good news to retirees. However,…
Medicare Open Enrollment 2016: Medicare open enrollment is the time period when you can buy into or switch your Medicare Advantage and/or Part D coverage. This open enrollment period goes from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. Some might argue that enrolling in Medicare is off the charts painful… It can be so hard to understand……
What are the two most expensive and important things in retirement? Housing and medical costs. As such, you probably want to review this list of the best states for health care. In 2014, health spending accounted for 17.5% of the national GDP, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Even more, by 2025,…
How much will Medicare cost in 2018? If you have wealth, your Medicare costs could rise rapidly. Paying for your health is going to be more expensive by 2018. Congress has decided that the wealthiest 5% of Medicare recipients should pay more for their health coverage. What Are the Current Medicare Costs? The annual baseline…
Retirement planning is hard. You have to account for 20-30 years of expenses that are difficult to predict and make sure you have enough money to pay for them. How to plan for healthcare costs in retirement is particularly challenging. These costs continue to rise and it is difficult to know what kind of care…
The Big Takeaways… Using spousal health benefits can save you from heavy premiums, and often guarantees high quality coverage during your gap into Medicare eligibility. Certain programs such as the Affordable Care Act or COBRA can be good strategies if you need to self insure, as well as using a Health Savings Account. Try the…
During retirement, most expenses decrease on average. This includes housing, clothing and transportation. But there’s one expense that has been shown to increase and consume a large portion of older American’s incomes: health and Medicare cost. The share of the 75-plus population’s total spending that goes toward health care is 15.6 percent, which is nearly…
What is Medicare, and do you need more than basic coverage? Original Medicare can leave you with hefty, uncovered expenses, but the best Medicare supplement plans — either Medigap or Medicare Advantage — can lower your costs and improve your care. There are so many questions that accompany signing up for America’s retirement healthcare plan….
Let’s go ahead and state the obvious: healthcare is a huge expense in retirement. HUGE. And, not only huge, but also unpredictable and potentially debilitating. According to Fidelity, a couple who is 65 years old today can expect to spend $245,000 on Medicare premiums alone. Out of pocket expenses and long term care costs can…
You might be far too young for Medicare now, but the more you know the healthier you’ll stay. No one is born understanding how Medicare works. And just because friends or family have navigated the system well, that doesn’t mean you won’t hit a snag. A solid retirement plan includes a good working knowledge of…
Health care costs are one of the largest — if not the largest — expense you will face in retirement. Over the course of the an average married couple’s lifetime, out of pocket health care costs could total a staggering $394,954 — $463,849, according to recent research from HealthView Services. If these numbers terrify you,…
Want to amp up your efforts to save money for retirement and take care of your financial health? Luckily, it’s all in your hands. W. Patrick Jarrett, COO of HealthSavings Administrators, was kind enough to answer our questions about retirement and health savings accounts. What is your professional background? How has it served you in…
Medicare can be confusing when you’re just learning about the system before receiving benefits. There’s Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D, and they each have a different job to do. The federal government holds two trust accounts that fund each facet of Medicare, and many Americans get these benefits without having to sign…
Social Security has served as a financial safety net for many older adults, but recent research indicates that era is drawing to a close as retirement health care costs skyrocket. Many older Americans rely heavily on Social Security benefits as their main source of income in retirement. Nearly half (47%) of unmarried people depend on…
Healthcare is again in the news and many people are feeling confused by the amount and variety of information being communicated. Here is what you need to know about Medicare, Obamacare and Medicare Supplemental insurance. Obamacare: Obamacare is the commonly used name for the Affordable Care Act. This act is designed to make healthcare affordable for…
According to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the above is largely true no matter how high you think they are. A good rule of thumb for estimating health costs in retirement is that Medicare will, on average, cover 60%, while the remaining 40% come out of the retiree’s pocket. Unfortunately, according to…
Many things can break a retirement plan, but the cost of Health Care can shatter it. Most retirement professionals will tell you that much, but very few people internalize this truism to the extent they need to. A report from Fidelity Investments released earlier this year estimates that the average 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012…
Have you or someone you know begun the process of choosing Medicare coverage? In a new study, it was found that many Americans are not choosing the best plan for them because of how complex Medicare is. According to assistant professor of health care policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School Dr. J. Michael McWilliams,…
