The Quintessential Good News-Bad News Situation

[jldavid47]

For grins I calculated what the 2023 COLA increase for Social Security would be if there was zero change in the CPI-W over the next 6 months (yeah, right). It came out to 5.5%. (March index value of 283.176 is 5.5% higher than the 2021 3Q average of 268.421).


More likely we're probably looking at a 8-9% increase next year. That's the good news. The bad news is that we are all probably spending it already.


For those of you that want to track it the BLS has the relevant table here:


https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CWUR0000SA0

 

[Dtail]

Okay, but what will the Medicare Part B increase be?
Net net obviously still positive.

 

[Koolau]

Reminds me of the "good/bad" comedy bit possibly attributable to Joe E. Lewis.

Comic: "Well, did you hear that Social Security is raising our monthly payments by 8% next year?"

Straight man: "Hey, that's good."

Comic: "No, that's bad. MC premium increases will probably eat up most of that,"

Straight man: "Oh yeah, that's bad."

Comic: "No, that's good. I just snagged a great rate on a MC supplement. I'll come out ahead on medical care next year."

Straight man: "Hey, that is good."

Comic: "No, that's bad. DW figured out we'd have more money coming in and already has her eye on a new EV."

Straight man: "Yep, that's bad."

Comic: "No that's good. We'll save a fortune on gasoline."

Straight man: "Never thought of that. It IS good."

Comic: "No that's bad. I gotta put in a 240v 50amp. charger."

Straight man: "Okay, that IS bad... but YMMV." etc....

 

[Bigdawg]

Reminds me of the "good/bad" comedy bit possibly attributable to Joe E. Lewis.

Comic: "Well, did you hear that Social Security is raising our monthly payments by 8% next year?"

Straight man: "Hey, that's good."

Comic: "No, that's bad. MC premium increases will probably eat up most of that,"

Straight man: "Oh yeah, that's bad."

Comic: "No, that's good. I just snagged a great rate on a MC supplement. I'll come out ahead on medical care next year."

Straight man: "Hey, that is good."

Comic: "No, that's bad. DW figured out we'd have more money coming in and already has her eye on a new EV."

Straight man: "Yep, that's bad."

Comic: "No that's good. We'll save a fortune on gasoline."

Straight man: "Never thought of that. It IS good."

Comic: "No that's bad. I gotta put in a 240v 50amp. charger."

Straight man: "Okay, that IS bad... but YMMV." etc....

When/where can I catch your next stand up routine? Probably in HI right?

 

[rk911]

Okay, but what will the Medicare Part B increase be?
Net net obviously still positive.

exactly.

 

[Time2]

Okay, but what will the Medicare Part B increase be?
Net net obviously still positive.

Dreamer, since when have medical costs risen slower that inflation?

 

[Koolau]

When/where can I catch your next stand up routine? Probably in HI right?

Nope. Appearing right here (almost) every day! Thanks.