National Medicare Education Week starts on Sept. 15, 2012, which is exactly one month before the start of the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP; Oct. 15-Dec. 7, 2012). Now is the perfect time to kick-start your preparation so you'll be ready to make decisions about your 2013 coverage during the OEP. Visit the Coverage Examples page to see how four Medicare beneficiaries chose their plans. Or watch the videos about Medicare Parts A, B, C and D as well as Medicare supplement insurance to get ready to make your choices.

Social Security Announces 1.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2013

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013. The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013, and the increased payments to SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012. The average monthly benefit that a Social Security Disability beneficiary receives, $1,113, will increase to $1,132.

Visit Disability.gov for more information about Social Security and other benefits programs.