Community Chat

[vermint]

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@JoyFilled Warrior wrote:

*finger crossed* & *prayers* that we lowly masses,  *are not* newly negatively impacted with regard to our Gov't funds, (incl Soc Security, & other Gov't funds related, for starters).

In many/all cases, WE paid into it.  We worked for it. I dont know why it's called "entitlement," as if unearned, when talking "cuts." We're "entitled" to funds we paid into?  *scratching my head*

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@JoyFilled Warrior Actually, if we paid into it we are "entitled" to it! Those who have never paid into SS, etc. and yet receive benefits are NOT really "entitled" to them, though they may "qualify" for them for different reasons..

All goverment benefits have long been referred to as "entitlements"...this is wrong. You are not "entitled" to benefits you have not paid into.

[Jo1313]

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@pdlinda wrote:

@Jo1313   I netted a $30 increase from S.S.

However, my pension annuity was DECREASED about $100/month as my premium(although subsidized) for my PPO health insurance was raised from $35/month to $99/month and my dental insurance premium(also subsidized) increased about $5.00/month.

NOT GOOD...I also have other sources of income but my overall financial picture is much worse than it was a few short years ago.  I hope that will change for the better soon.

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I hear ya..good luck..

[SharkE]

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@shoekitty wrote:

@SharkE   You won't believe this but CVS, the closest drug store to me wont take coupons on certain drugs.   If the insurance doesn't pay, they charge full price. They started this last year surprised it's not illegal. 

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Dang girl !   Hope you don't take or use anything that falls in that catagory !  Believe I'd change pharmacy

[Estellee]

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@LavernLuvsShoes wrote:

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@Estellee wrote:

I will be able to treat myself to Longhorn's for lunch.

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I hear ya!

And I'll treat myself to a couple more pints of Haagen-Dazs! 

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@LavernLuvsShoes YEAH! 

[AuntG]

We got our increase letters right before the new year. Our increases made total sense, because the Medicare deduction was listed separately. We'll take it.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

My increase posted.  Whatever they give me, I'll take it. DH says it'll adjust again when the SSA catches up to his new salary.  

[781Florist]

By the time I subtract the increase in Part B, the increase in my BCBS Supplement, and the increase in my Part D prescription coverage...I have a net loss of about $9.50 a month.

Boston is a fabulous place to be if you are in need of any kind of medical attention, but it doesn't come cheap!

...absolutely nothing comes cheap in Boston come to think of it !!

I am grateful that my healthcare is not one of my worries.

[Trailrun23]

I am thrilled the bill was finally passed; i will be getting my full social security for the first time. i will get 100% of it instead of the 40% with the gov't keeping 60% of my own money that I earned.  I will get $1,000 a month more now. Long overdue. Now waiting to see how long SSA drags its feet before releasing our money.

[shoekitty]

I really noticed costs this year.  I know that every year those of us on Medicare the supplements go up in increments every year.   The older you get, the more it increases. I am grandfathered into the top tier of AARP united Healthcare.  They don't offer it anymore. It went up a lot. Probably want me to drop it lol. I think my husband and I are paying way more for insurance than we did when he was working. The only good side is I think our out of pocket for services is nothing...so far!  I have never received a bill for ambulance, emergency, hospital or surgery.  So, maybe that made up. 
What really went up big time is the part D. I pay more on the whole for RX than I ever did on regular insurance.   I am glad we got a raise, better than nothing 

[Trailrun23]

The WEP was always unfair. 4 million of us worked in states where we were required to pay into both social security and state pension, or in jobs outside of teaching where we paid social security. When we retired, we were only allowed to get 40% of our social security; the premise was that we would be getting such a huge teacher pension that it wasn't fair to also get all our social security. Do you know anyone who is rich on their teacher pension and less than half of their SS?