You may be surprised to learn that Medicare and Social Security will not automatically honor your Durable Power of Attorney or Health Care Surrogate. These are powerful legal documents that everyone should have in their planning toolkit, but when it…
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Medicare Part B covers doctors’ fees. The basic Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $148.50 in January 2021. However, many high-earning seniors do not realize that their Medicare Part B premiums will be higher than that – in some…
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The Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021 has been announced: 1.3%. This is among the smallest increases ever, and the smallest since 2017. According to the Social Security Administration, the 1.3% increase will translate to an additional $20 for…
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Americans collecting Social Security benefits are slated to receive a cost of living increase in 2020. Benefits will increase by 1.6%. The average retiree’s monthly benefit will increase about $24, from $1,473 to to $1,503. Also, the Social Security tax…
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The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act became law on June 25, 2019, making Blue Water veterans eligible for disability benefits related to Agent Orange exposure. For decades, veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam argued that, like those who served…
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The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins October 15, 2019 and runs through December 7, 2019. During this time, you may switch to a Medicare Advantage plan or from one Medicare Advantage plan to another; and from one Medicare Part D…
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Stories have recently appeared in the press about Medicare beneficiaries blindsided by fees for physical exams they expected to be free of charge. The cause: patients failed to understand the difference between a physical exam and Medicare’s Free Annual Wellness…
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Beginning in 2020, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans who have chronic illnesses will be covered for certain supplies and services not previously covered. Examples include bathroom grab bars and wheelchair ramps; and services such as home meal delivery, at-home…
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New Medicare cards are on the way. Starting in April 2018, new Medicare cards will be mailed to 60 million Medicare beneficiaries. Mandated by the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act of 2015, the new cards will not display your…
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Since the launch of the Medicare program in 1965 and until today, the agency has issued ID cards bearing the beneficiary’s Social Security number. This was not particularly problematic years ago. But today, the tsunami of identity theft has made…
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