Catch up in minutes with your daily briefing on the Social Security, Medicare & Retirement news that affects you most.
| What to Know for Thursday, March 19, 2026: | 1: Rising policy uncertainty forces seniors to delay retirement and shift investments | Social Security cuts are the top concern: 54% of near-retirees and retirees say a 20% Social Security benefit cut starting in 2035 would require "significant sacrifices" or a "tighter budget" — the highest concern among all policy risks, even for households with over $100,000 in investable assets. Defensive actions taken since early 2025: 21% of pre-retirees now plan to retire later than before (only 4% plan earlier), 27% moved to more conservative investments, and 39% report increased concern about their financial future — exposure to news about Social Security's financial difficulties makes people 16.6 percentage points more likely to delay retirement. Medicare and tariffs also driving worry: 39% say Medicare premiums rising 10% annually for 3 years would tighten budgets, and 42% say high/unpredictable tariffs hurting the economy would significantly impact them — worry over these issues correlates with plans to delay retirement and shift to safer investments, showing uncertainty is clearly harming older Americans.
| | ➜ Read the full study from the Center for Retirement Research here. | | 2: Medicare premiums could double to $5,000 annually by 2035 — outpacing Social Security raises |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| Premiums rising faster than your COLA: Medicare Part B premiums could jump from $2,440/year to about $5,000/year by 2035 — this year's 9.7% premium increase already outpaced the 2.8% Social Security COLA, and early estimates for 2027's COLA range from just 1.7% to 2.8%. Your Social Security check buys less each year: Since Medicare Part B premiums are automatically deducted from Social Security checks each month, rising healthcare costs mean your buying power shrinks — "the top factor eating into retirement checks and causing a loss of buying power is premiums," says independent analyst Mary Johnson. Medicare Advantage overpayments drive up costs: About $450 of the projected $5,000 annual premium is due to government overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans — the government currently spends about 14-20% more for Medicare Advantage than traditional Medicare beneficiaries, and that overspending increases costs for all beneficiaries.
| ➜ Read the full story from the Market Watch here. | | | 3: Common spousal Social Security mistake costs married couples thousands — claim at 62 |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| No benefit to delaying spousal claims: Unlike regular Social Security benefits which increase 8% per year until age 70, spousal benefits max out at 50% of your spouse's benefit and don't grow by waiting — delaying your claim past age 62 means you're leaving money on the table. When you can claim: You can receive 50% of your spouse's Social Security check once both you and your spouse have turned 62 or reached retirement age — the payment is entirely dependent on your spouse's benefit amount. Claim immediately to maximize total: Since there's no advantage to waiting, claim spousal benefits as soon as both you and your spouse have turned 62 to avoid missing out on thousands of dollars in payments you could be receiving.Read the full story from the The Sun here.
| | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Thursday, March 19th. | Here's Who Gets Social Security Payments This Week on March 18th |  | Here's Who Gets Social Security Payments This Week on March 18 |
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| 7 Things You Can Buy with EBT That Most People Don't Know |  | 7 Things You Can Buy with EBT That Most People Don't Know |
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| | | The Daily 3 Deal List—Week of March 16th | | This newsletter is for information only. Always confirm your options directly with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or a qualified advisor before making big decisions about your benefits. | *View our Advertising Disclosure |
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