Health Costs Perspective Why Low Growth In Health Costs Still StingsThe survey found that a person receiving the national average Social Security benefit in 2000 - 6 per month - would have ,193.10 per month by 201However, because retiree costs are rising at a substantially faster pace than the COLA, that individual would require Social 0.30 more per month, or ,603.40 in 2018, just to maintain his or her 2000 level of buying power..According to an article by StateNews.com, pharmaceutical manufacturers have been pouring millions of dollars into this year's Congressional campaigns..Needless to say, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services still lacks the effective oversight to monitor the wasteful payments that continue to plague the system. The Obama administration has made efforts to increase Medicare's accountability and reign in the waste and fraud that remain at an all time high level. In an education initiative, President Obama recently announced an increased effort and funding for a "Senior Medicare Patrol" program designed to educate Medicare beneficiaries on fraudulent spending from healthcare providers. The goal is to bolster Medicare fraud education programs for seniors across the country, highlighting ways to spot and report suspicious fraudulent activity from healthcare providers. … Continued
Report Section Data Note 2019 Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Data NoteSenate Committee Debates Future of ACA.One of the biggest traps to determining Medicare premiums based on income is how the government defines "high income." Social Security's rules can snag even modest-income people. This can happen when a home is sold or when converting retirement accounts. One-time capital gains can put seniors over the Medicare income thresholds. The higher Medicare premiums reduce monthly Social Security benefits for an entire year. Should your mother's income in 2010 return to more modest levels she won't have to pay the means test premium surcharges and her Social Security benefit should return to more normal levels next year..Over the past decade, there has been no COLA at all three times - in 2010, 2011, and 201In 2017 the COLA was just 0.03%. The 2021 COLA of 1.3% is one of the lowest COLAs ever paid. TSCL feels this is a clear sign that the inflation adjustment for Social Security benefits is failing the very people it was designed to protect. … Continued
