Mar 25 Who loses from a permanent Medicare doc fix? By Philip Moeller Making Sen$e Medicare columnist Phil Moeller is excited about the possibility of a bipartisan breakthrough in Congress, and on the years-long fight over the Medicare "doc fix" no less. But someone, he explains, will have to pay for the impending… Continue reading
Mar 23 Why maximizing your Social Security won't bankrupt the system By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff has repeatedly warned that the Social Security system is underfunded. Why then does his new best-selling book tell readers how to collect as much as possible in benefits? Perhaps surprisingly, he explains, most of the… Continue reading
Mar 18 Guess who really pays for your Medicare By Philip Moeller As Congressional leaders grapple with a possible permanent solution to Medicare cuts to physicians, Making Sen$e Medicare columnist Philip Moeller delivers a little tough love about the role that Medicare beneficiaries play in the nation’s expanding "entitlement deficits."… Continue reading
Mar 16 Am I receiving extra Social Security credit for my military service? By Laurence Kotlikoff Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff clarifies which veterans are eligible for "special extra earnings" from Social Security for their military service and explains how to check if they're receiving those extra credits on their records. Continue reading
Mar 09 Your relationship means nothing to Social Security unless you're married By Laurence Kotlikoff Marriage is the only way to validate a relationship before the Social Security Administration. Even if a couple has raised children together and one partner dies, Social Security does not consider the other partner eligible for the late partner's widow(er)'s… Continue reading
Mar 04 Why are my health insurance premiums going up and up? By Philip Moeller A reader's insurance agent says that everyone's premiums are going up. But the reader wonders if he could be spending less. Making Sen$e Medicare Maven Phil Moeller tells him what to look for. Continue reading
Mar 02 Spousal benefits, you say? Does age difference matter? By Laurence Kotlikoff Many readers this week were curious about the file-and-suspend and spousal benefit strategies that Larry Kotlikoff details in his new book, "Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security."… Continue reading
Feb 26 Watch 7:00 Tricks and tips for getting the most from Social Security By PBS News Hour The longer you wait before cashing in on Social Security benefits, the greater the financial reward. But many don’t wait until age 70. There’s a range of loopholes and “secrets” that can improve your benefits, a fact economics correspondent Paul… Continue watching
Feb 23 10 Social Security rules that are insane By Laurence Kotlikoff Ever feel like you need a translator to understand what the Social Security Administration is trying to tell you? You're not alone. As part of his new book, co-authored with Making Sen$e's Paul Solman and Phil Moeller, Social Security expert… Continue reading
Feb 16 How to get what's yours from Social Security By Laurence Kotlikoff, Philip Moeller, Paul Solman One day while playing tennis, Social Security expert Larry Kotlikoff informed Paul Solman about a strategy for maximizing the benefits that he and his wife were eligible to collect. They decided everyone else should know that secret, too, and are… Continue reading