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Surprise! Effort to End Surprise Billing Still Alive.For those planning retirement however, it is the estimated dollar amount in Social Security benefits, not the replacement rate, that what one uses to determine a retirement budget, or how much more one will need to save for retirement. When one retires, it is the actual benefit amount, not the replacement rate that one must live on. One of the most frequent requests for services received by Social Security Administration is for an estimate of benefits. While no promises of benefits are made, millions of estimates are made annually. If the rules are changed abruptly, as they were for those born during the Notch period, this leaves no time to save for the shortfalls in benefits..Are My Medical Expenses High Enough to Deduct From My Income Taxes?.Heating and cooling: According to TSCL's Annual Survey of senior costs, residential fuel oil has been the fastest rising expense for more than a decade. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a 250-gallon delivery of home heating oil this season may cost more than With the average monthly Social Security payment around ,100, that's a cost few seniors can afford and still have something left over for groceries. Take time to survey suppliers in your area and compare costs. Do ask for a senior citizen discount and learn the supplier's payment options. Financing your heating fuel through the supplier may give you smaller, more manageable payments, but you will pay financing fees and interest. With interest so low on savings, it sometimes makes sense to pay in full when you can to save financing charges..Health, fitness, and wellness programs.TSCL will keep a close eye on the negotiations as they evolve in the coming weeks, and we will encourage lawmakers to avoid another government shutdown. For updates, visit the Legislative News section of our website, or our new account on Twitter..To avoid the fee in 2014, you need insurance that qualifies as minimal essential coverage. If affordable insurance is not available through your employer, you can shop for health insurance through your new state health insurance exchange, or market place. Middle to low income people who buy coverage through the exchanges will also get government subsidies in the form of advance refundable tax credits to help pay the premiums. These tax credits are only available if you buy coverage through the exchange. You aren't supposed to get the subsidy if you have an offer of insurance from your employer that meets the standards. You qualify for the subsidy if your income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level. So the qualification level is about ,000 or less for an individual and ,000 or less for a family of four in 2013..The pharmacies providing vaccines at stores include CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, and Costco, as well as networks of independent operators. Not all the chains will immediately be taking part in every state, the White House said..New Concern About Cuts to Medicare