Social Security Cost of Living Increase for 2025 is 2.5%
“Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025.” Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today (Oct. 10, 2024). On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about...
Vaccines can help you stay healthy.
Vaccine guidance from the Mayo Clinic. Medicines called vaccines help your body stop an infection before it starts. Vaccines help you or your child avoid infections that can be severe or deadly. It’s always better to avoid getting sick if you can. For many diseases, getting older increases the...
Free At-home COVID-19 Tests
Order Your 4 Free At-home COVID-19 Tests. Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home tests. Need help placing an order for your at-home tests? Call 1-800-232-0233 Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may be able to use your COVID-19 tests after the expiration date...
What about the Social Security Fairness Act?
The Social Security Fairness Act legislation would cut two provisions that curtail retirement (Social Security) payments for public workers (approximately 2 million employees) and their surviving spouses and family members (approximately 800,000), the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Note, Reagan was president when the...
Social Security payroll tax maximum earnings increases for 2025
The maximum earnings subject to Social Security for 2025 is $176,100. That is a 4.45% ($7,500) increase over the 2024 maximum earnings amount for 2024 of $168,600. Employees (6.2%) and employers (6.2%) contribute equally to the Social Security taxes (12.4%). Thus, an employee who made $176,100 or more in...
Medicare Part D (Drug plan) changes for 2025
The U.S. legislature has made changes to Medicare Drug plans (Part D). For 2025 there will be a $2,000 cap on total out-of-pocket spending for drugs covered by your plan. Note the “covered by your plan”. If sometime during the year your doctor prescribes a new drug and it...
CDC recommends Spring 2024 COVID-19 booster for older adults
CDC Director Mandy Cohen endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for adults ages 65 years and older to receive an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. The recommendation acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, along with the currently available...
Beware of Medicare Advertising
It’s ridiculous how much insurance companies advertise Medicare insurance offerings. They must really make a lot of money. Primarily the advertising is for Medicare Advantage (Part C) insurance. Medicare Advantage is private insurance that separates your Medicare insurance from Original Medicare. Your healthcare services will not be approved and...
Social Security payroll tax maximum earnings increases
The maximum earnings subject to Social Security for 2024 is $168,600. That is a 5.24% ($8,400) increase over the 2023 maximum earnings amount for 2023 of $160,200. Employees (6.2%) and employers (6.2%) contribute equally to the Social Security taxes (12.4%). Thus, an employee who made $168,600 or more in...
Medicare increases Part B premiums nearly 6% for 2024
On October 12, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2024 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2024 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will...