Catch up in minutes with your daily briefing on the Social Security, Medicare & Retirement news that affects you most.
| What to Know for Tuesday, March 17, 2026: | 1: Medicare to cover CBD products starting in April — $500 annual benefit for pain relief |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| Historic coverage expansion: Following President Trump's December 2025 executive order reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, Medicare will launch a pilot program allowing coverage of physician-recommended CBD and hemp products for the first time — the 5-10 year test program starts as early as April. $500 annual coverage for 70 million seniors: Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible for up to $500 per year in CBD coverage through the pilot program run by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation — Medicare Advantage plans covering 34 million additional seniors are also considering offering CBD coverage. Keep more money in retirement accounts: Seniors who rely on CBD to treat chronic pain, cancer, and other conditions won't have to pull money from their 401(k)s to pay for treatment — CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz says "If you're over 65, you should pay attention to this executive order because it's going to touch your life."
| ➜ Read the full story from The Motley Fool here. | | 2: Should you take Social Security at 62? Most people lose $182,370 by claiming early |  | (Image credit: Reuters) |
| Waiting until 70 pays off for most: The typical retiree who claims before age 70 loses $182,370 in potential lifetime Social Security income — the "break-even" point is around age 80, and by age 62, you can expect to live into your 80s, making waiting the smarter choice for most people despite 90% claiming before 70. Don't claim early due to insolvency fears: About one-quarter of Americans ages 62-66 claim early because they fear Social Security won't be there later — but experts say benefit cuts would be "political suicide" and would more likely affect younger workers, not current or near-retirees. Investing early checks is risky: While you might beat the 8% annual Social Security bonus (76% total increase from age 62 to 70) by earning 5% returns investing early checks, experts warn this strategy has "perils and pitfalls" — Social Security's guaranteed income provides security that unpredictable financial markets can't match.
| ➜ Read the full story from the USA Today here. | | | 3: New senior tax deduction saves money now but could accelerate Social Security's insolvency |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| Your tax break reduces Social Security's revenue: The new $6,000 senior tax deduction (worth $670 in after-tax income for typical seniors) means many will pay less in Social Security benefit taxes through 2028 — but lower benefit taxes mean less revenue for Social Security, potentially causing the program to run out of savings sooner than the projected 2032 depletion date. Future tax hikes may offset current savings: The government will likely intervene to avoid benefit cuts, but may raise the Social Security payroll tax rate, the benefit tax rate, or both to keep the program solvent — meaning you could face larger tax bills in the future, especially if the senior deduction expires in 2029 as scheduled. Build your personal savings cushion now: The more savings you have to fall back on, the better you'll fare regardless of what happens with Social Security — use smart withdrawal strategies to stretch your retirement funds and keep an eye on future changes so you can revise your plans to remain financially secure.
| ➜ Read the full story from the Motley Fool here. | | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Tuesday, March 17th. | SNAP Benefits: DO THIS Before March 31st—New Work Rules Take Effect |  | SNAP Benefits: DO THIS Before March 31 — New Work Rules Take Effect |
|
| Medicare Advantage Holders MUST DO THIS Before Open Enrollment ends on March 31st |  | Medicare Advantage Holders MUST DO THIS Before Open Enrollment Ends on March 31st |
|
| | | 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 |
|
| | | | | Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Benefits Insider 228 Park Ave S, #29976, New York, New York 10003, United States | | Terms of Service | |
|
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment