No help for Seniors

[steve6354]

     The increase of 2.5% for Seniors this year, was an unfunny joke.   Medicare ripped us off for more money, and Medicare Advantage raised Co-pays across the board.  Can't afford it, Congress say's, as well as the Senate.  Then How can this Government give Billions to other countries constantly ??   They do not have the guts to change the "Formula" for Social Security.  It's to hot a Topic in Washington.  They can't take a chance on not getting re-elected, with pay raises on the horizon.  They can spend Billions on illegal aliens, but not Seniors.  Third World Countries look after their elderly better than the United states.  The plan is to make excuses.  That is always the plan.

[GailL1]

@steve6354 

What do you mean “Medicare ripped us off for more money”?  Medicare Part B and D premiums are based on the cost of the various programs - IOW, if we use more of the programs it cost more in premiums - UTILIZATION.  

Medicare Part B cost are divided out between beneficiaries and the government.  Beneficiaries in their premiums cover about 25% of the cost of the program and the government pays the other 75% out of the General Fund (meaning all tax payers money).  Higher Income beneficiaries pay a higher rate of premiums in IRMAA surcharges.  

Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD) as well a Medicare Part D free standing plans had a lot of changes in 2025 due to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)  and if their cost went up and they did with the IRA, these cost are just past along.  Those who are talking higher cost meds are the winners here.  

Even if the COLA was based on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly" (CPI-E),  rather than the CPI-W it wouldn’t make that much different - The CPI-E has been about 0.2% higher per year.  So as in this year, 2025, we got a 2.53% CPI-W.  with a CPI-E, we would have gotten 2.73%

As to where government spends all the money - I am sure we all have different opinions - perhaps the best thing to do is IF you need more help see if you qualify for what is already available.

Medicare.gov - Medicare Savings Programs - this saves seniors money in Medicare premiums and copays and other cost.

SSA.gov - Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help program - saves on drug cost

then there are others too .

Who knows how things will change in the next several years.

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[steve6354]

  Have You ever tried to get in touch with Medicare or SSA ??   Good Luck.   It's hard to have a Medicare savings account, when You cannot even make ends meet. Do You know how low the income limits are for help of any kind, for a couple in their Seventies with Disabilities and Major health issues ??    You have to be practically living in the Park.   You may know all about these programs, but not many disabled Seniors do.  Do You really think the COLA is fair, when Medicare takes a huge bite out of it, the Medicare Advantage Companies keep  raising co-pays and drug costs across the board. 

[GailL1]

@steve6354 

Seniors can apply for one of the Medicare Savings Programs with their state.  In addition to help in covering the Part A, Part B premiums and any copays, some of the programs also open up access to becoming a dual eligible - a senior who has both Medicare and Medicaid.  

Income, Asset and Resource limits are shown on the Medicare Savings Programs site which I gave - but a state can also expand these and many have so a beneficiary needs to check what the limits are within their own state.

Yes, I think the COLA formula is pretty correct - either of them since they are not that far apart.  Remember any COLA adjustment is based on the current year’s figures of inflation.  The government monitors and records these each and every month during the year.

What I do know is that many seniors have decided to retire early and that in and of itself reduces one’s SS benefits.  SSDI benefits are a beneficiaries WHOLE benefit, IOW - they are getting under the SSDI program exactly what they would have gotten at their FRA - in fact when they reach their actual FRA, the program where they get their benefit changes (from SSDI to SSOA) not the amount.

I am sorry that you are having a tough time of it - maybe reach out to your local dept of aging or whatever they may call it where you live.  Maybe there is help for you there.  Yes, I believe help is available for those that need it if they can find the right place to begin to seek it.  

All I know is that we have a LIFETIME to make a plan for that time when we can no longer work and there are government (state and federal) help programs available if that plan falls short.  

[steve6354]

You are very clever with Your Word Salad. Are You retired ?   You actually think the the COLA formula is fair ??   You must be independently wealthy.  If You love the government agencies so much, why don't You go to work for one ??   How about letting some other members comment on post's before You dive in. If anything, You are annoying.  AARP does nothing to influence what goes on in Washington. 

[GailL1]

@steve6354 

Yep, been retired a very very long time.  I am not rich but I am comfortable and still pay a hefty share of taxes like Medicare IRMAA and taxes on my benefits among others.

The BLS gets the cost of living figures monthly and runs several different models - seems to cover most everything.  

One thing you might be forgetting is that the formula has a built in type of stat where people can choose a lower price item to replace a more expensive one.  

I have no reason to doubt the government statistics on the annual COLA.  Remember the stats are based on all areas of the country and then averaged together to produce just one figure for the country.  So if one lives in NYC their COLA % probably doesn’t go as it does somewhere else where the cost of living is lower.  

People get a Social Security benefit that is in proportion to what they have put into it over their 35 years of earnings with those making in the lower income amounts getting a better return proportionately because of how the benefits are calculated.  

Please get a hold of yourself - everybody has the right to post here as long as they are civil and you might be just on the edge of tipping over to the dark side.  

Post your views, but at least say why you think the way you do and perhaps post some back up on why you think the COLA figures are wrong.  

[steve6354]

Well Gail, Don't worry. I am not posting again.  You seem to to know everything, like the good little AARP moderator You are.

[GailL1]

@steve6354 

I am not an AARP moderator - I have been a poster on this board since 2008 but actually I haven’t been a member of the organization since 2010 or thereabouts.  

I don’t want you to leave, just do your post a bit different - don’t shoot the messenger - but take all the shots you want at the message.

How would you want the COLA to be figured?