Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-12-2015, 10:41 AM   #21
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Big_Hitter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
it's not just the COLA on SS, CPI is also used to change IRS benefit limitations
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
Big_Hitter is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 10-12-2015, 02:57 PM   #22
Moderator
Walt34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bestwifeever View Post
Is that a plan D? That's crazy. DH just switched to Humana Walmart Rx and it's only $18 a month for 2016.
It's Caremark high option, part of my former employer's plan. I pay 30% of the total premium which is a lot less than many on the board here pay so perhaps I shouldn't moan too loudly. I'm a little fuzzy on whether it is actually a plan D or a substitute for one that qualifies by meeting the legal requirements.

The transition to Medicare was pretty simple for me since I kept the same insurance and it became secondary to Medicare A and B at age 65.
__________________
When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
Walt34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 09:36 AM   #23
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
Is inflation low? Depends on what you buy. As many noted, dropping fuel prices cancel out inflation of other commodities and services, so if you have an RV you would do well. If you do not drive much, you will not be happy as other items went up 1.9% in the last 12 months.

From a press release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
The energy index fell 4.7 percent in September... The indexes for fuel oil, electricity, and natural gas declined as well...

In contrast to the energy declines, the indexes for food and for all items less food and energy both accelerated in September...

The 18.4 percent decline in the energy index over the past year offset increases in the indexes for food (up 1.6 percent) and all items less food and energy (up 1.9 percent).
Read the entire article here: Consumer Price Index Summary.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 01:56 PM   #24
Moderator
Walt34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,299
I picked up a copy of "Get What's Yours: the Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security" at the library today. A fun fact not discussed on the board here so far concerns spousal benefits.

Quote:
If you were convicted of the felonious and intentional homicide of the worker, you cannot become entitled to monthly benefits or the lump-sum death payment based on the deceased's Social Security earnings record.
So, tempting though it may be, don't murder your spouse or ex if you're planning on taking spousal benefits.
__________________
When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
Walt34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 02:00 PM   #25
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Atlanta suburbs
Posts: 633
Even without SS increases (I don't get SS at present anyway), I am really happy that healthcare costs are not galloping away at 7-10%. In the link in post #23 by NW-Bound, I saw medical care commodities inflation at 2.7% (I don't suppose that the same thing as total healthcare). What I have read elsewhere is that healthcare inflation over the last 2 years of Obamacare was 2.4% annually, whatever the actual causes may be. For me, healthcare inflation might be the one issue that could cause problems.
DEC-1982 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 02:01 PM   #26
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt34 View Post
I picked up a copy of "Get What's Yours: the Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security" at the library today. A fun fact not discussed on the board here so far concerns spousal benefits.



So, tempting though it may be, don't murder your spouse or ex if you're planning on taking spousal benefits.
Dang! the Gummint thinks of everything.
travelover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 03:23 PM   #27
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,375
Low gas price = less need/desirability for hybrid or electric car investment cost premium. Net, even more savings for seniors needing a replacement car.
gerntz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 03:26 PM   #28
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by DEC-1982 View Post
Even without SS increases (I don't get SS at present anyway), I am really happy that healthcare costs are not galloping away at 7-10%. In the link in post #23 by NW-Bound, I saw medical care commodities inflation at 2.7% (I don't suppose that the same thing as total healthcare). What I have read elsewhere is that healthcare inflation over the last 2 years of Obamacare was 2.4% annually, whatever the actual causes may be. For me, healthcare inflation might be the one issue that could cause problems.

Its all in the details 1982.... My individual healthcare plan of $5k deductible for previous 5 years ranged from $72-$88 a month. This year because of Obamacare it went from $88 to almost $300 for a $6500 deductible. So my Obamacare inflation was triple digit inflation! And from what I read next year from local newspaper the Act is ready to kick me hard in the privates again. BTW- 1982 was a good year!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 04:02 PM   #29
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt34 View Post
...So, tempting though it may be, don't murder your spouse or ex if you're planning on taking spousal benefits.
Yes. Go after the ex's boyfriend or girlfriend. Leave the ex alone.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulligan View Post
... my Obamacare inflation was triple digit inflation! And from what I read next year from local newspaper the Act is ready to kick me hard in the privates again...
Yet, if the overall healthcare inflation is not bad, then it means someone else is enjoying enhanced benefits.

My condolences, but in real life not everyone can win.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Lower gas prices means no Social Security increase next year
Old 10-16-2015, 04:05 PM   #30
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Lower gas prices means no Social Security increase next year

Quote:
Originally Posted by NW-Bound View Post
Yes. Go after the ex's boyfriend or girlfriend. Leave the ex alone.







Yet, if the overall healthcare inflation is not bad, then it means someone else is enjoying enhanced benefits.



My condolences, but in real life not everyone can win.

As long as I don't get banned from doing it on a semi frequent basis, complaining about it here makes the situation tolerable....Its therapeutic.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 04:07 PM   #31
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
I am not getting SS, but the negative inflation means that my I-bonds which have a 1.2% fixed rate are also paying 0.

A big fat 0! Darn! I looked back, and as recently as in 2011, they were paying 5.83%. I know that the 5.83% is still only 1.2% after inflation, but, but, but it still hurts.

I hope the gas price stays low until next year travel season, so I can take my RV out for a long spin of several months to make up for other stuff that go up in prices. You've got to burn a lot of gas to save money.

If you do not have an RV, crank up the thermostat this winter to enjoy that low energy cost. You've got to spend money to save money, as they say.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 04:14 PM   #32
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,580
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulligan View Post
As long as I don't get banned from doing it on a semi frequent basis, complaining about it here makes the situation tolerable....Its therapeutic.
To quote that great American Statesman, "no problemo".

Another way to look at your situation is you enjoyed a nice subsidy for many years, now it's gone. I may soon find myself once again in your situation. The plan I have is dropped (again), the only equivalent option so far will cost 50% more, on a base of $1.4K per month.
MichaelB is offline   Reply With Quote
Lower gas prices means no Social Security increase next year
Old 10-16-2015, 04:32 PM   #33
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Lower gas prices means no Social Security increase next year

Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelB View Post
To quote that great American Statesman, "no problemo".

Another way to look at your situation is you enjoyed a nice subsidy for many years, now it's gone. I may soon find myself once again in your situation. The plan I have is dropped (again), the only equivalent option so far will cost 50% more, on a base of $1.4K per month.

I sure hope the premium includes at least 2 people, Michael. I have to admit I knew about 5% as much about insurance pricing as I do today. I had an option to stay on a group plan until SS for $500 a month and $1k deductible. I thought that was outrageous. So I checked in the individual market and think....Why is anyone complaining about buying insurance? Write the $72 monthly check, fully fund an HSA, and tad da..... They are actually paying me to get insurance when figuring in the tax deduction. Well it was fun for 5 years anyways...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 04:47 PM   #34
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,188
Its one of those where the no COLA this year is bad news for those too close to the edge, but good for the overall market.. ie trying to factor in 3% inflation over 40+ years of retirement makes the #s crazy high.. so I'm happy about a break in inflation early on in retirement. Add to it that over half of companies were actually planning on giving a pay increase this year (sad that its no longer guaranteed).. means many will have more buying power (ie. good for the market).

I saw lots of posting of people very upset about no COLA and how EVERYTHING had gone up...so went over to BLS and looked up the #s. So gas is down (YEH saves me at least $100/month), Dairy is down, and pork is down while beef and chicken is up (so thats a toss up as I just buy whatevers on sale). Rent is up 2.4% for me which comes out to $20/month, and of course health care (which is unknown right now).. so on the big ticket items I'm probably $80 to the plus side so as long as my insurance doesn't go up by 25% I'll break even. Given I have been assuming 10-15%, we'll see as I may actually be on the plus side.
karen1972 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 05:21 PM   #35
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ziggy29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Oregon Coast
Posts: 16,483
I have to wonder what percentage of GDP is in health care, and how much the inflation numbers are weighted in health care costs. I suspect the first number is a lot higher than the second.
__________________
"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
ziggy29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 05:33 PM   #36
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
jimbee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,214
Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy29 View Post
I have to wonder what percentage of GDP is in health care, and how much the inflation numbers are weighted in health care costs. I suspect the first number is a lot higher than the second.
According to this site, 17.4% of the U.S. GDP is health spending.

https://www.cms.gov/research-statist...istorical.html
jimbee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 05:41 PM   #37
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
mickeyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Texas~29N/98W Just West of Woman Hollering Creek
Posts: 6,671
I'm OK with no SS COLA this year. Should help SS stretch out a longer life, as I see it. It has been obvious for a while that it would be >1% this year anyway. I'll not miss the extra bump.
__________________
Part-Owner of Texas

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx

In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.
mickeyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2015, 05:48 PM   #38
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,054
What a bunch of #$%#%$. Rents are up, food is up, medical is up, and we have no inflation!
jim584672 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2015, 07:06 AM   #39
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Atlanta suburbs
Posts: 633
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulligan View Post
Its all in the details 1982.... My individual healthcare plan of $5k deductible for previous 5 years ranged from $72-$88 a month. This year because of Obamacare it went from $88 to almost $300 for a $6500 deductible. So my Obamacare inflation was triple digit inflation! And from what I read next year from local newspaper the Act is ready to kick me hard in the privates again. BTW- 1982 was a good year!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sorry to hear about that; I knew there were winners and losers. Averages are just that - averages.
DEC-1982 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2015, 08:00 AM   #40
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
athena53's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,322
I think DH and I are part of the group that will be picking up the tab for SS recipients who don't get an increase in Part B premiums. Ordinarily, they won't raise Medicare B premiums because of a law that says the net (monthly SS minus Part B) can't go up from year to year.


That doesn't apply to people who are subject to IRMA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustments) to their part B premium, which are based on your Adjusted Gross. Because we're married filing jointly, that includes my income even though I don't qualify for Medicare yet. I'm not looking forward to seeing the Part B increase- another punishment for saving responsibly.


Quote:
Originally Posted by jim584672 View Post
What a bunch of #$%#%$. Rents are up, food is up, medical is up, and we have no inflation!

Ah, but according to one article I read, airfares are down! And seniors fly everywhere right? Oh, well, except for the ones relying totally on SS and the ones who can't stand flying anymore because it's such an endurance contest and the ones who have the time to drive everywhere...;-)
athena53 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Diversifying Doesn't Lower Risk, But It Does Lower Potential Gain justin FIRE and Money 44 11-05-2005 04:16 PM
Natural Gas prices to Increase 71% this winter.............. Cut-Throat FIRE and Money 33 09-11-2005 04:16 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:27 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.