"The Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment is official: 3.6%."

[ProSense]

Calculated Risk

The Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment is official: 3.6%.

The Contribution and benefit base will increase to $110,100 in 2012 from $106,800.

[MineralMan]

1. I just found out that my Medicare supplement premium goes up $10 in

2012. I believe there will also be an increase in the Medicare Part B premium. I'm hearing it will be about $8. That still means a small increase in my monthly SS payment.

[ProSense]

4. Also, Medicare Advantage premiums are will fall

HHS: 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums fall and projected enrollment rises

On average, Medicare Advantage premiums will be 4 percent lower in 2012 than in 2011, and plans project enrollment to increase by 10 percent, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today. Of people with Medicare, 99.7 percent continue to enjoy access to a Medicare Advantage plan, and benefits remain consistent with those offered in 2011. This follows an earlier announcement that average prescription drug plan premiums will remain virtually unchanged in 2012.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Medicare is stronger than ever,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “On average, Medicare Advantage premiums will go down next year and seniors will enjoy more free benefits and cheaper prescription drugs.”

CMS was able to use authority provided by the Affordable Care Act to protect beneficiaries from significant increases in costs or cuts in benefits in 2012, leading to average premium declines for the second year in a row: 2012 premiums are projected to be 11.5 percent below 2010 premiums.

In 2012, all beneficiaries will have access to Medicare-covered preventive services without paying a co-pay or deductible, including an Annual Wellness Visit with their physicians. Those who reach the donut hole will enjoy deep discounts on brand name drugs and expanded coverage for generic drugs under provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

This year marks an important change in Medicare’s annual open enrollment, the time period during which people can choose to change plans or shift from Medicare Advantage to Traditional Medicare. Open Enrollment starts earlier – on October 15, 2011 – and lasts longer (7 full weeks) to give beneficiaries enough time to review and make changes to their coverage. As a result, however, beneficiaries will need to make their elections for next year’s Medicare coverage by December 7, 2011 rather than the usual December 31. The new open enrollment period will better ensure that individuals have their membership cards in hand and receive uninterrupted health care coverage on January 1, 2012.

<...>

[NavyDem]

2. Military Retirement Pay and VA Disability Pay is also going up

3.6%. These are tied to the same indexes as Social Security if I remember correctly.

[newfie11]

3. yes they are n/t

[RC]

5. Anyone know what the actual inflation rate is. How much it has increased the last 3 years?

[CountAllVotes]

6. this is the info. they go by for the most part

http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Consumer_Price_Index/HistoricalCPI.aspx

Unreal as it is ... :grr:

:kick:

[woo me with science]

7. It should have been in the double digits,

had they not rigged the formula. And Medicare will take a big chunk of what they are finally offering after three years.

They are seeking accolades for theft.

[ProSense]

8. Well

"It should have been in the double digits,"

...it's not, and after two years of zero increases, it should be welcomed news.

Nothing is ever good enough, and I'm sure a higher number would have been met with the same criticism.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. +1 (nt)

[Yupster]

10. Housing is a large part of the formula so

inflation the last three years has been negligible.

[woo me with science]

11. The "formula" has been rigged by corporate thieves,

And their friend, our President, sought to make it even worse when he proposed chained CPI in April.

Now that it is election season, they seek praise and accolades for increasing the chocolate ration.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. House values have gone down in many places, how about rent?

Is rent dropping along with purchase prices?

[ProSense]

12. More good news

Rise in Medicare premiums less than feared in 2012

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The new Part B premium for outpatient care will be $99.90 a month for 2012, or about $7 less than projected as recently as May.

The bottom line: most seniors will pay an additional $3.50 a month next year, instead of $10.20, as forecast earlier.

Some younger retirees who enrolled recently have been paying up to $115.40 a month. Instead, they'll get a sizable break next year.

<...>

Medicare's Part B annual deductible, the amount beneficiaries pay before their coverage begins, will also drop next year to $140, a decrease of $22.