by independencenw | Aug 24, 2009 | social security
Via US News and World Report
Most Medicare beneficiaries won’t pay higher premiums for Part B medical insurance coverage next year. Under current law, Part B premiums cannot rise faster than Social Security annual cost-of-living increases. And the Congressional Budget Office predicts there will be no cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients in 2010 and 2011. But the law doesn’t protect all Medicare recipients from elevated health insurance costs. About 75 percent of people will be protected from the premium increase, according to Juliette Cubanski, a policy analyst at the Kaiser Family Foundation. The remaining 25 percent of Medicare recipients will face larger than normal premium increases because the costs are spread across a smaller share of beneficiaries. Here is who will have to pay greater Medicare premiums in the near future.
Medicaid recipients. Medicaid, which is funded by states and the federal government, already pays Medicare part B premiums for low-income individuals who qualify for both government programs. Medicaid will absorb the larger premiums for the 17 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who are also eligible for Medicaid. “The individual doesn’t pay the higher cost of the Part B premium, but the state does,” says Cubanski.
High income retirees. Seniors with a modified adjusted gross income above $85,000 for individuals and $170,000 for couples in 2009 already pay steeper premiums than other retirees. The wealthiest 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries aren’t exempt from further Part B premium hikes.
New enrollees. Retirees who sign up for Social Security and/or Part B medical coverage for the first time next year will also face higher premiums than existing Medicare recipients. While most Medicare Part B recipients currently pay $96.40 per month and will continue to be charged the same premium amount next year, costs are likely to increase for a quarter of retirees to $104.20 monthly in 2010 and $120.20 in 2011, according to the Medicare Trustees.
Current law does not protect Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage recipients from premium increases in years when there is no Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. Retirees who experience increases in their Part D premiums could receive smaller Social Security checks next year.
by independencenw | Aug 24, 2009 | social security
From KATU.com
For the first time in more than 30 years, Social Security recipients won’t be getting a cost-of-living adjustment. That increase is pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year.
Negative inflation is a good thing for consumers shopping for groceries and other staples, since it means lowered costs on many of the items we buy every day. But what is good news for the rest of us equals bad news for those expecting the same 5.8 percent raise they got January 2009 for their Social Security benefits starting January 2010. That’s because a negative inflation rate means there will be no Social Security increase come 2010.
The lack of an increase is expected to be especially hard on older people who spend a disproportionate amount of their income on health care. Health care costs continue to rise faster than inflation.
For more information, you can go to Social Security Online to find out how cost-of-living adjustments are calculated. In general, that resource tells you that a cost-of-living increase is equal to the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. If there is no CPI-W increase, there is no cost-of-living increase either.
This is the first time in a generation that there will be no adjustment this next January. While benefits would not go lower, the deductions for Medicare and especially the prescription drug plan written under the Bush administration, will go up. Since millions of seniors have those benefits deducted from their social security check, come January those millions will get a smaller amount for each regular Social Security check.
by independencenw | Aug 24, 2009 | advocacy, aging into adult services, caregivers, customers, high school transition, Turning 18
October 29, 2009, Ambridge Event Center in Portland, OR
1333 NE Martin Luther King Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
The Center is located 2 blocks North of the Portland Convention Center. Some parking spaces available at Ambridge. If full, there are many parking lots conveniently located. Also very convenient to the Max Line and TriMet. Map it
Program Description
One-day special education law and advocacy programs focus on four areas:
- special education law, rights and responsibilities
- tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
- SMART IEPs
- introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy
Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.
Download brochure for more information. Register online >>
by independencenw | Aug 24, 2009 | data, reports
The Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Investigations and Training has released its annual Abuse Allegations Report. You can check it out here.
by independencenw | Aug 24, 2009 | aging into adult services, autism, caregivers, cerebral palsy, clackamas county, community connections, customers, domestic employees, employment, high school transition, independent contractors, multnomah county, provider organizations, providers, resource, training, washington county
Last Friday, the metro area brokerages (Independence Northwest, Inclusion, Mentor Oregon and The Arc Brokerage Services) held the 2009 Resource Fair. The fair was an enormous success. We’re still tallying the attendee count, but it will likely surpass 400! Special thanks to all the vendors who came and presented their resources to metro area brokerage customers. You can check out their services below.
211
Autism Society of Oregon
Bridges to Independence
Child Development and Rehab Center
DePaul Industries
Disability Accomodation Registry and Safety Zone
Disability Compass
Disability Rights Oregon Work Incentives Program
Disabilty Rights Oregon Help America Vote Act Project
Eastco
Edwards Center
Families Supporting Independent LivingGenerations X and Y
Good Shepherd Communities
Goodwill Industries
Happy Trails Riding Center
Independent Police Review
Making Magic Tours
Mentored Learning
Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services
NAMI Multnomah
Off The Couch Activity Night
On the Move
Oregon Office on Disability and Health
PASS
Port City/Project Grow
Portland Community College, Culinary Assistant Program
Quiet Waters Outreach
Ridewise
SDRI
Self Advocates As Leaders
Special Olympics Oregon
The Companion Program/Adventures Without Limits
TNT Management Resources
Trips Inc
*NOTE: Not all vendors listed above provide services that can be paid for through Support Services funding. Some are natural resources and others are available through private pay. Check with your Personal Agent if you have questions.