SSA.gov | How do I sign up for Medicare?

Title: How do I sign up for Medicare?

Article Snip: "...If you already get Social Security benefits, you do not need to sign up for Medicare. We will automatically enroll you in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) when you become eligible. We will mail you the information a few months before you become eligible.

Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down. However, if you decide to sign up for Part B later, your coverage can be delayed and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Residents of Puerto Rico or foreign countries will NOT automatically receive Part B. They must elect this benefit.

If you don’t get Social Security benefits and are not ready to apply for them yet, you should sign up for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. The easiest way to apply for Medicare is by using our online application or you can make an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information read our Medicare publication.

..."

Reference: ssa.gov
How do I sign up for Medicare?

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How a Decades Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes

Title: How a Decades Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes

Article Snip: "Most working Americans have to pay Medicare taxes, but some of the richest figures on Wall Street have found a way to opt out, a ProPublica investigation found. ...It’s so automatic for many workers that they may not even realize it takes a bite out of every paycheck. In theory, everyone is required to contribute to the country’s health insurance program for seniors, no matter how poor or rich, from cashiers to CEOs. Not on Wall Street. There, some of the most powerful people in finance found a way to opt out. The trove of tax records...these maneuvers by the rich hasten Medicare’s future crisis."

Reference: www.propublica.org
Wealthy vs. Working Class, Medicare Taxes for You But Not The Wealthy, Loopholes for the Wealthy But Not You, Destruction of the Social Security Retiree,

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Are you having trouble signing in with login.gov?

Title: Are you having trouble signing in with login.gov?

Article Snip: "...Forgot your login.gov password? Locked out of your account? We’ll help you resolve account access issues. ...
How to sign in to Login.gov
Forgot your password
Issues with face or touch unlock "

Reference: www.login.gov
login.gov issues

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Health | Scientists identify ultra-processed foods that fuel colon cancer and healthy alternatives that may offset the damage

Title: Scientists identify ultra-processed foods that fuel colon cancer and healthy alternatives that may offset the damage

Article Snip: "...Previous evidence has linked increased inflammation to diets high in processed food, such as chips, sausages, packaged desserts, and refined carbs. ..."Our bodies are designed to actively resolve inflammation through bioactive lipid compounds derived from the healthy fats, like avocados, that we consume." ..."

Reference: www.businessinsider.com
Colon Cancer,Health,Cancer Prevention,

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Health | Risks and Complications of Breast Implants

Title: Risks and Complications of Breast Implants

Article Snip: "...The FDA has updated the Risks and Complications of Breast Implants, clarifying information about Implant Removal and adding ultrasound as an acceptable alternative imaging for screening for rupture for asymptomatic patients to Silicone Gel-Filled Implant Rupture. The FDA also added a new subsection entitled, Reports of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), Various Lymphomas other than BIA-ALCL, and Mesenchymal Tumors, including Sarcoma. ..."

Reference:www.fda.gov
Food and Drug Administration (FDA),Breast Implants (Risks and Complications),

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Health | I’m a doctor — here are 4 simple ways to lower your risk of dementia

Title: I’m a doctor — here are 4 simple ways to lower your risk of dementia

Article Snip: "...All of our brains inevitably shrink with age — a change that is most accelerated and profound in the nearly 7 million Americans currently living with dementia. While there isn’t a way to reverse this loss in brain volume, we can potentially curb it by prioritizing our mental and physical health.

Dr. Arjun Masurkar, a cognitive neurologist and dementia specialist at NYU Langone Health, shared with us four major ways to maintain a healthy mind as we age. ..."

Reference: nypost.com
Health,Dementia prevention/delay,

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Medicare Log In | Sign In or Create a Medicare Account

Title: Medicare Log In | Sign In or Create a Medicare Account

Article Snip: "...Your secure Medicare account lets you access your information anytime. ...To get started, you'll need your red, white, and blue Medicare card. I don't have a Medicare card If you don't have your Medicare card, you can get your Medicare Number by logging in to your Social Security account. If you need more help, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. My Social Security Account"

Reference: www.medicare.gov
Medicare Log In, Sign In or Create a Medicare Account,

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When can I sign up for Medicare? Get My Medicare Sign Up Date

Title: When can I sign up for Medicare?

Article Snip: "...Get My Medicare Sign Up Date. Answer a few questions here to find out

These questions don’t apply if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). ..."

Reference: www.medicare.gov
When can I sign up for Medicare?

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Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage

Title: Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage

Article Snip: "...Consider these things when deciding between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage Plan for your health coverage..."

Reference: www.medicare.gov
Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage

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Get Started With Medicare | Your Medicare Card

Title: Get Started With Medicare | Your Medicare Card

Article Snip: "... Your card has a Medicare Number that’s unique to you — it’s not your Social Security Number. This helps protect your identity.

The card shows:

You have Medicare Part A (listed as HOSPITAL), Part B (listed as MEDICAL), or both.

The date your coverage begins.

Once you’re signed up for Medicare, we’ll mail you your Medicare card in your welcome packet. You can also log into (or create) your secure Medicare account to print your official Medicare card. ..."

Reference: www.medicare.gov

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Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program

Title: Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program

Article Snip: "...Medicare Part D provides drug coverage. The Extra Help program helps with the cost of your prescription drugs, like deductibles and copays. You can apply for Extra Help any time before or after you enroll in Part D. ..."

Reference: www.ssa.gov
Medicare Part D Extra Help program

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Sports Record | Juan Soto agrees to largest and longest contract in Major League Baseball history

Title: Juan Soto Agrees to Record $765M, 15-Year Contract With Mets

Article Snip: "...Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a record $765 million, 15-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical. Soto's deal is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, topping Shohei Ohtani..."

Reference: www.newsmax.com

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No, Fighting Wasteful Scams Isn’t ‘Cutting’ Medicare

Title: No, Fighting Wasteful Scams Isn’t ‘Cutting’ Medicare

Article Snip: "...The Medicare program does pay these Medicare Advantage plans targeted toward veterans slightly less, ostensibly to reflect the fact that veterans receive many health services from the VA. But the Journal examined one Humana plan for veterans that received 22 percent less than other Medicare Advantage plans in a given area, but whose participants had 38 percent fewer days in the hospital, and 63 percent fewer doctor visits and surgeries. In other words, even though Humana received less than other Medicare Advantage plans, it was still paid too much — which probably explains why Humana and other insurers are creating these plans targeted at veterans in the first place. ..."

Reference: thefederalist.com
Veterans vs. Medicare, Humana, Medicare Advantage plans,

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Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025

Title: Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025

Article Snip: "...Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January. ...Over the last decade the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6 percent."

Reference: www.ssa.gov
Lower Than Average COLA increase, How is inflation so high but COLA is below average, Bankrupting of Social Security Recipients,

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The ABCs of health care | Here are some terms to know this open season

Title: The ABCs of health care | Here are some terms to know this open season

Article Snip: "...To help USPS employees navigate their way through this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are some important definitions for sometimes confusing health insurance terminology: ..."

Reference: news.usps.com
ABCs of health care

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What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

Title: What’s the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

Article Snip: "...The Postal Service wants employees to understand the four types of health plans available during this year’s open season.

The plan types are..."

Reference: news.usps.com

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Here’s How Much Grocery Prices Have Increased for Retirees in Every State

Title: Here’s How Much Grocery Prices Have Increased for Retirees in Every State

Article Snip: "...GOBankingRates reviewed the 2013 and 2023 cost-of-living index for groceries to find the average national grocery expenditure cost for retired individuals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Inflation Calculator was then used...Alabama Grocery cost for 65+ in 2023 (using 2023 $): $7,830.20"

Reference: yahoo.com

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Social Security Fairness Act Passes U.S. House, Heads for Senate Approval

Snippet of Article: "...The answer now lies in the U.S. Senate. On Tuesday, the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would repeal both the WEP and GPO that reduce or even eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of workers..."

Source: www.texasaft.org

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Everything You Can Try if You Can’t Hear Dialog in Movies and Shows

Title: Everything You Can Try if You Can’t Hear Dialog in Movies and Shows

Article Snip: "...Tweak these settings and stop missing out on what’s being said. ..."

Reference: www.wired.com
Health,Hearing,Tips for Retirement,

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America Wins | Donald Trump wins 2024 presidential election, defying the odds again

Title: Donald Trump wins 2024 presidential election, defying the odds again

Article Snip: "Trump, 78, was on course for an Electoral College landslide over Vice President Kamala Harris after he reversed his 2020 losses in the crucial states of Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. ...“We’re going to help our country heal,” Trump added, “and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders … fix everything about our country.” ..."

Reference: nypost.com
The Party of Unity Wins (Republicans),Trump Wins, America Wins, Retirees Win with Trump, Popular Vote Win, Electoral College Winner (2024),

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