COLA boosts benefits by 3.2%, but Medicare premiums are also going up Published by: AARP The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) gets the headlines, but multiple aspects of Social Security change annually to reflect national trends in prices and wages, affecting the benefits paid to tens of millions of Americans and the taxes paid by nearly all […]
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Published by: cnbc.com Social Security beneficiaries will soon get notices showing exactly how much money to expect in their monthly checks for 2024. Those recipients are slated to get a 3.2% boost to their benefits starting in January with the 2024 annual cost-of-living adjustment. Retirement benefits are expected to go up by more than $50
Published by: Medicare Rights Center You may owe a facility fee when you go to a hospital-owned outpatient clinic. In other words, when you see a doctor at a facility that is owned by a hospital, rather than owned by the doctor. These facility fees help the hospital maintain the clinic by offsetting operational costs.
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You’ll need to plan to pay for some common medical expenses Published by: AARP Medicare covers the majority of older Americans’ health care needs, from hospital care and doctor visits to lab tests and prescription drugs. Here are some needs that aren’t part of the program. 1. Opticians and eye exams While original Medicare covers
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Published by: National Institute on Aging The most effective way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine every year. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine. It makes it less likely that you will get the flu. It also reduces your chances of being hospitalized or dying if you
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are accounts for individuals with high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Funds contributed to an HSA are not taxed when put into the HSA or when taken out, as long as they are used to pay for qualified medical expenses. Your employer may oversee your HSA, or you
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all of the manufacturers of the first 10 drugs selected for the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program have committed to participate in the program. The negotiations will occur this year and in 2024, and the negotiated price
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. This period is also sometimes called the Annual Election Period. During this time, you can make changes to your health insurance coverage, including adding, dropping, or changing your Medicare coverage. Even if you’re happy with your current health
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Published by: PGIA Have you felt satisfied with your Medicare plan this year? Or do you feel that your coverage is lacking, or your out-of-pocket costs are too high? You do have the option to switch plans if you’re not happy with your current one. Each year, Medicare operates an Annual Election Period from October
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Published by: Medicare Rights Center Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the RSV vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the RSV vaccine can help prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV season varies from year to year but usually starts in the
Does Medicare cover the RSV vaccine? Read More »