Medicare Part B premiums

I agree tax-planning for means-tested retirement benefits will be important for retirees soon. Currently is just Medicare part B. It affects just 7% current retirees, but since its NOT COLA-index it will affect the majority of retirees by the 2020s. There have been several abortive legislative attempts to means-test part-D. I wouldnt be surprised if ALL medicare and social security pension is means-tested as revenues tighten. This would basically mean that people living solely on government benefits would pay less than those who have pensions and IRAs in addition.

The type of retirement account may matter with Roth being the best. Its appreciations withdrawals dont count as income at all.

The rate of withdrawal may matter. if you delay until age 70 when you are required to take out about 7% per year, this may increase your medicare premiums more than if you started withdrawing at 59 which is about 4%. I havent done these calculations myself yet.

Can't argue with you.

So have you heard about the possibility of using 2008 AGI (rather than

Wrong web site - see

Thanks. That's the relevant form.

According to the form, it appears that "loss of income-producing property" doesn't include loss of investment value in a market upheaval. It includes (page 5), "loss of income from real property in a Presidentially or Gubernatorially-declared disaster area, destruction of livestock or crops due to natural disaster or disease, or loss of income from property due to arson."

Evidence has to be submitted to support the form, specifically (page 8), "An original or certified copy of an insurance company adjuster?s statement of loss or a letter from a State or Federal government about the uncompensated loss of income-producing property."