Life doesn’t always go as planned; things can change overnight. Having money in the bank to cover your monthly expenses is good, but living paycheck to paycheck is never a safe thing to do. You never know what the future may hold. Going through life with no savings is a risk you shouldn’t take. 

Setting aside an amount of money each month and keeping it in a savings account is a wise step to take. You will always be prepared for any emergencies. The amount you have in your emergency fund must only go for urgent unplanned situations. If you have other savings goals, consider opening another account. 

Here are 4 good reasons you should have an emergency fund: 

Unemployment

Looking at the uncertainty the world is going through, turning from an employed person to a jobless person has a high possibility. Many lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those who didn’t have any savings suffered financially, especially with the lack of opportunities and the setback the labor market has witnessed.

Not to be pessimistic, but always prepare for worst-case scenarios. Make sure your emergency fund will cover at least 6 months of your expenses to be able to maintain a decent lifestyle if it happens to lose your main source of income. 

Unexpected Medical Costs

No need to tell you that buying medical insurance is essential, but not all medical costs can be covered in the insurance. Medical emergencies can happen anytime, no matter how healthy you are, and they are not the type of things you can postpone. Always set aside a considerable amount of money to deal with unexpected medical bills. 

Urgent Repairs

It happens to many; they are driving their cars as usual, and suddenly the engine starts making weird noises, or the car just stops working for no apparent reason. A quick visit to the mechanic tells them that a huge bill is awaiting them. 

The same goes for home repairs; sudden plumbing problems, the heater stopped working, and so on. 

You can’t always count on your paycheck to pay for these repairs, but if you have an emergency fund, you’ll pay for them on the spot without needing to wait for the problems to get worse.

Unplanned Trips

We are not talking here about traveling for leisure, this is not considered a situation that requires withdrawing money from your emergency fund. What we are talking about is unfortunate events that compel you to travel without previous planning. For instance, if one of your close friends or family members had an accident that put them in the hospital or one of your loved ones has passed away, and they live in another country, you’ll need to travel there as soon as possible.

Plane tickets, accommodations, and other traveling expenses are not cheap. An emergency fund will serve you well in such situations and allow you to cover all the costs and be there to support your family and friends.

How to Build an Emergency Fund and How Much to Save?

Start by opening a savings account, then set your monthly savings goals. Budgeting is important. List your monthly expenses, and allocate a budget to pay them. Transfer whatever is left from your paycheck after paying these expenses to your savings account. 

If you find it difficult to save on a monthly basis, save a small amount daily and transfer it to your savings account. By the end of the month, you’ll find out you saved a considerable amount of money without even knowing. 

Those who work in the United States pay Medicare payroll taxes. Medicare taxes are withdrawn from your paycheck, and many seniors assume this money will fund their Medicare premiums in the future. However, this is not 100% true. So, who pays for medicare insurance richmond va? Keep reading to find out!

Medicare taxes

You may find it as a surprise that the money you have paid into Medicare over the years did not go to a Medicare account specifically for you. So, where did the money go that you have paid out over the years? The Medicare taxes you paid funded the seniors who were on Medicare at that time. For example, those currently paying Medicare taxes fund Medicare for today’s senior citizens.

If you aren’t covered by creditable coverage, you will apply for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, which is based around your 65th birthday month. Your monthly premiums will draft from your Social Security check if you receive Social Security benefits. Those not receiving Social Security benefits will receive a quarterly bill for their premiums. If you aren’t sure when you’re Medicare will be approved, visit this link here: boomerbenefits.com/when-will-my-medicare-get-approved/

So, how much will Medicare cost you monthly?

How much is Medicare Part A?

Many of you won’t have to pay a dime for Medicare Part A. The reason behind the $0 premium is that some of the money you paid in Medicare taxes did, in fact, fund your Part A premium. If you or your spouse have worked 40 quarters (ten years) in the U.S. and paid payroll taxes, you will have a $0 monthly Part A premium.

Many of you might not have worked 40 quarters but worked between 30-39 quarters. If this is your case, you will pay $274 monthly for Part A in 2022. If you have less than 30 quarters, you will pay the total Part A premium of $499 per month in 2022.

Now, Medicare Part A does have a deductible. In 2022, the Part A deductible is $1,556 per 60-day benefit period. So, if you become an inpatient at the hospital, you are responsible for the Part A deductible and any co-insurance costs if you don’t have secondary coverage.

What is the cost of Medicare Part B?

Everyone will pay for Medicare Part B, no matter their work history. The standard Part B premium is $170.10 per month in 2022. However, Medicare Part B premiums are calculated differently than Medicare Part A. The Social Security office will look at your tax returns from two years ago to determine your Part B premium.

Those in a high-income tax bracket will be subject to an income-related monthly adjustment amount, known as IRMAA. You will pay the IRMAA charge as long as you remain in a high tax bracket. If your income were to change, you could file an IRMAA appeal.

On top of the Part B premium, you will also pay the Part B deductible when you seek outpatient care. In 2022, the annual Part B deductible is $233. Once you pay this amount, Part B will begin to cover 80% of your Medicare-approved charges. Therefore, you are responsible for the 20% co-insurance.

Medicare beneficiaries often purchase an additional plan, such as a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, for cost-sharing help. You can find a Medicare blog that details what these types of plans cover.

Are additional Medicare plans free?

Private insurance companies sell Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans. These two plans are very different and have different monthly costs.

A Medigap rate depends on your age, gender, zip code, tobacco use, carrier, and more. You will want to speak with a reputable Medicare broker to receive an accurate quote from multiple insurance carriers! Whatever the premium may be, you are responsible for the monthly payment. If you fail to pay for your Medigap plan, the carrier will disenroll you from the plan.

Medicare Advantage plans are different when it comes to their quoting. Advantage plans vary from zip code to zip code, and the insurance carrier will set the plan’s cost-sharing amounts, such as your premium, deductible, and copays. Again, working with a Medicare broker can help you shop Advantage plans across your area and find the most cost-effective plan for you.

Final point

The only person who is responsible for paying your Medicare premiums is yourself! But, if you are low-income, you may qualify for Medicaid assistance. To learn more about the cost of Medicare, visit Medicare.gov.