News

Medicare Part D's True Out-of-Pocket-Cost spending requirements which are unusually high as it is, are poised to make a stunning and unprecedented jump in 2020. Unless Congress takes action, the Part D doughnut hole coverage gap will swell by 25% next year, from ,100 in 2019, to ,350 in 2020 before the catastrophic phase of coverage kicks in. This would be the largest increase in Part D's required out–of–pocket spending ever, since the start of the program in 2006..I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 which required surgery and considerable follow-up treatment. I also required extensive dental work during the year. My medical and dental expenses alone totaled more than ,000, and that does not include my husband's premiums and out-of-pocket costs, which were close to ,000. Will we be able to deduct these expenses on our income taxes? We were unable to deduct our routine medical costs last year..The survey showed that many people did not know how to safely use different cleaning products, even as most said they knew how to properly store and use them. About a quarter of respondents knew that only room temperature water should be mixed with bleach, and a third knew not to mix bleach with vinegar. More of the respondents - about two thirds - knew that eye protection and gloves were recommended when using certain cleaners..The funding of President Trump's border wall, which is part of the funding for the Department of Homeland Security, had been a major sticking point but that has apparently been resolved..Low-income individuals whose state Medicaid programs pay their Medicare Part B premium on their behalf.."No Limit: Medicare Part D Enrollees Exposed to High Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs Without a Hard Cap On Spending," Kaiser Family Foundation, November 201"Summary of Recent and Proposed Changes to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and Reimbursement," Kaiser Family Foundation, February 2018..Rest assured the Consumer Price Index does include food and fuel. Without those two items, the CPI would grow much more slowly than it already does and so would your annual-cost-of-living adjustment..Medicare Savings Programs cover the cost of the Medicare Part B premium, saving a person 8.50 per month in 202Depending on income, those with the lowest income may also qualify for additional benefits that cover the Part B deductible and out-of-pocket costs. People with incomes in 2020 of up to ,456 per month or ,960 might be eligible if they have limited savings and resources of ,860 or ,800. These limits are slightly higher for Hawaii and Alaska. This program is administered through state Medicaid programs and states may have guidelines that allow people with slightly higher income to enroll. If interested,contact your local Medicaid office to apply..That means the trust fund reserves money that came out of your paychecks to finance your earned benefits would become unusable by the Social Security and Medicare programs. Here's how that could lead to benefit cuts…