If you’ve delayed signing up for Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) because you’re still working and have health insurance through your employer, you must know about some changes that may affect your budget in 2025. Working people who qualify for Medicare sometimes delay applying, which is fine if you meet the requirements. Your employer’s […]
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When Decoration Day Became Memorial Day, and Why It Still Matters
Memorial Day is a topic I return to every May because it is important to honor the Americans who gave their lives in service to our great nation. It’s a national holiday with a somber and respectful history, and we need, especially now, to keep that in mind. Our activities on Memorial Day should include […]
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Social Security Administration Releases Final Rule Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculation for SSI
The most important takeaway from the Social Security Administration’s rule change is that any purchases of food for Supplemental Security Income recipients from Special Needs Trusts and families will not decrease the SSI payment. The new rule was approved on March 27 and effective September 30, 2024. This new ruling makes Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) […]
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What Does the Realtor Settlement Mean for You?
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has agreed to pay $418 million over the next four years to resolve class action lawsuits brought by home sellers who said they were forced to pay inflated commissions to real estate agents. This is big news for homeowners and seniors thinking about downsizing. Under the settlement, each seller […]
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2025 Medicare Advantage Rates Are Finalized: Health Insurance Company Stocks Respond
On April 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Calendar Year 2025 Rate Announcement for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Programs to update payment policies for these programs, according to a press release from CMS.gov. Payments to the government will increase an average of 3.70 percent from 2024 […]
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What are the New IRA and Retirement Saving Rules for 2024?
If your New Year’s resolutions included increasing your retirement savings efforts in 2024, there are a few changes to rules about IRAs, 401(k)s, and even 529 College Savings Plans you’ll want to know about. Contribution limits for 2024 have gone up. Annual contributions for IRAS in 2024 are now $7,000, up from $6,500 in 2023. […]
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2024 Bringing Big Savings for Medicare Patients Relying on Expensive Drugs
There is good news for Medicare recipients in 2024 who count on costly prescriptions. The Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022 puts an annual ceiling of $3,300 in 2024 for Part D drugs. The number could shift slightly depending on whether they take brand-name or generic medications. In 2025, the news is even better: the […]
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NAELA News Article on QLACs Is Top Pick for 2023
This past year, I’ve enjoyed contributing articles to prestigious professional journals, including one of our field’s most respected publications, NAELA News, by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. With great pride, I announce that my article, “SECURE 2.0 Opens the Door for Qualified Longevity Annuity Contracts (QLACs),” has been recognized as the most-read article […]
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Seniors Beware – Medicare (dis)Advantage Plans – Part Two.
If you’re not worried about your Medicare Advantage plan, a recent article from The Washington Post, “Hospitals and doctors are fed up with Medicare Advantage,” might motivate you to check on your Medicare plan before the open enrollment period ends – next Thursday, December 7. While Medicare Advantage plans have about 31 million members (nearly […]
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Seniors Beware – Medicare Advantage Plans – Part 1
Seniors who sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan may find themselves in a world of trouble – the complete opposite of what they expected. Once you turn 65, you are eligible to sign up for health coverage under Medicare. You can choose traditional Medicare (Parts A, B, and D) or Medicare Advantage (Part C). […]
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