Latest articles by Donna LeValley
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What Medicare Covers When You Travel in the US and Abroad
Medical emergencies can happen at any time. Knowing what Medicare coverage you have, anywhere in the world, can help you avoid a massive bill.
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Tax Reconciliation Bill Could Trigger $500 Billion in Mandatory Medicare Cuts
The deficits caused by the tax bill would trigger the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 and force billions in cuts to Medicare. However, Congress can block the implementation of the cuts.
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Missed Medicare Open Enrollment? Here Are Your Options
There are limited ways you can change your Original Medicare elections after annual open enrollment has closed.
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12 FAQs About Medicare
Medicare When you turn 65, you have to master a new health care system. We’re here to help.
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The Minimum Savings You Need To Retire in All 50 States
Worried you haven't saved enough for retirement? Here are the average annual expenses and minimum savings amounts needed to get by in all 50 states.
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Is Your Social Security Earnings Record Wrong? Here's How to Fix It
Your Social Security benefits are based on your Social Security earnings record. It's important to review your records to avoid having your benefits reduced.
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4 Things You Need to Know Before Applying for Social Security in 2025
Don't unnecessarily delay or reduce your Social Security benefits because you don't know all the rules and requirements.
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The Average Social Security Claiming Age is Trending Higher
Fewer people are claiming Social Security benefits at age 62. Better health and the elimination of the earnings test after 65 have lowered barriers to working longer.
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Here Is How Much You'll Pay for Medicare Premiums and Deductibles in 2025
Medicare premiums for 2025, and the cost of Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, and Part D premiums and deductibles, have gone up. Here is how much you'll pay in 2025.
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12 Things You Need to Know About Medicare
Medicare There's Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. We sort out the confusion about signing up for Medicare — and much more.
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You Can Now Collect a Public Pension and Full Social Security Benefits
retirement If you receive a public pension from the government, you can now collect full Social Security benefits as well as your pension, due to the Social Security Fairness Act.
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Social Security Earnings Tests: Five Things You Must Know
social security If you’re still working and claim Social Security early, your benefits could be reduced, at least temporarily.
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Gift Like Buffet: Three Financial Gifts for Your Kids and Grandkids
Warren Buffet used to give his family cash for Christmas. After learning they neither saved nor invested it, he gave them something more practical.
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How Your HSA Can Reimburse You for Medicare Premiums and Expenses
Medicare Even if your Medicare premiums are automatically deducted from your Social Security check, you can take tax-free withdrawals from an Health Savings Account to reimburse yourself.
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Here are the 2025 income related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) income brackets and surcharge amounts.
Medicare participants with an income above the threshold must pay a surcharge for Medicare Part B and Part D based on their income.
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How the Social Security Administration Is Coping with Rapid Change
There has been a fair amount of change at the SSA since Trump took office. Here's a look at what's new this year and how it will impact the agency going forward.
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What’s the Best Medigap Plan for You?
Medicare The 10 Medigap plans offer different levels of benefits that pay for expenses, such as co-payments, not covered by original Medicare.
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SEP IRA vs. Solo 401(k): Which Is Better for You?
Two retirement plans, the solo 401(k) and SEP IRAs, allow small business owners and the self-employed to save up to $69,000 annually.
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Thirteen local Social Security offices will temporarily stop all in-person service and will only be available by telephone. .
A departure from closing locations, 13 local Social Security offices will temporarily stop all in-person service and will only be available by telephone.
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15 Estate Planning Terms You Need to Know
Sometimes industry jargon can turn otherwise understandable concepts into stumbling blocks. Here are simplified explanations, definitions and uses for some estate planning tools.
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How to Access Your Parents’ Medicare to Help them Enroll and Manage Their Care
Getting access to your parents' Medicare or Medicare Advantage accounts is easiest when they're healthy. But you still have options if they are incapacitated.
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Five Trusts You Need to Know About and the Best Time to Use Them
You can use trusts to cement your legacy, organize your estate and limit your exposure to estate and gift taxes.
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Vaccines Medicare Covers for Free
The U.S. is experiencing an outbreak of measles and is on track to have the most whooping cough cases since 1948; these vaccines Medicare covers for free can keep you safe.
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Customer Services are Strained at the SSA, You Should Plan Around These Federal Holidays
If you have a question or need information from a federal agency, check the federal holiday schedule to make sure you get your business done before they close.
