Social Security: Exactly what it is, how it’s calculated and what we all can expect from the future of Social Security. Medicare: What services it covers, how much it costs and how you can possibly supplement this medical coverage. And finally, long-term care: A topic that most of us may not have thought much about. Planning for long-term care may potentially decrease the likelihood of the need to spend a significant portion of your retirement savings on long-term care.

1. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
helpful information about:
Social Security, Medicare, and Long-Term Care

2. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
important information
This presentation is for informational purposes only. Please be advised that this presentation is
not intended as legal or tax advice. Accordingly, any tax information provided in this presentation
is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of
avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. The tax information was written to
support the promotion or marketing of the transaction(s) or matter(s) addressed, and you should
seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
Securities products and services are offered through AXA Advisors, LLC, Member FINRA and
SIPC. Insurance and annuity products offered through AXA Network, LLC, which conducts
business in CA as AXA Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC, in UT as AXA Network
Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC, and in PR as AXA Network of Puerto Rico, Inc.. AXA Advisors
and AXA Network are affiliated companies and are located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, NY 10104. 212-314-4600. AXA Advisors and AXA Network do not provide tax or legal
advice. Ascend Planning & Consulting, LLC is not a registered investment advisor and is not
owned or operated by AXA Advisors or AXA Network.

3. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
important information
 AXA Advisors believes that education is a key step toward addressing your financial
goals, and this material is designed to serve simply as an informational and
educational resource. Accordingly, this material does not offer or constitute investment
advice and makes no direct or indirect recommendation of any particular product or of
the appropriateness of any particular investment-related option. Your needs, goals,
and circumstances are unique, and they require the individualized attention of your
financial professional. But for now, take some time just to learn more.

4. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
information about retirement
 74% of Americans say they plan to work past retirement
age.1
 What are you going to do?
 New spending habits
1) Gallup's Economy and Personal Finance survey, conducted April 5-9, 2017.

5. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
information about retirement
 Expenses may DECREASE due to
• Mortgage already paid-off
• Kids grown up
• Senior discounts
 Expenses may INCREASE because of
• Leisure travel
• Entertainment
• Health care
• Home services

6. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
agenda
 Social Security Basics
 Medicare Basics
 Long-Term Care Basics

7. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Social Security
Social Security is based on:
• How much time you have been working – employed or
self-employed
• How much income you made
• At what age you will begin receiving benefits

8. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Social Security
To Qualify:
For most people, you need to earn at least 40 Social Security “Credits”
(generally, in 2018, you receive 1 credit for every $1,320 you earn, up to 4 credits per year)1
• The age at which you may receive full retirement benefits varies
by your year of birth
 If you were born in 1942, you may receive your full retirement benefits
at age 65 years and 6 months2
 The age limit gradually increases until it reaches age 67 for those born
in 1960 or later2
• Early retirement is available as early as age 60 for surviving
spouses and 62 for all others2
Sources:
1) http://www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/survivors/onyourown.html
2) http://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/survivorchartred.html

9. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Social Security
Penalty for working while collecting Social Security
before your Normal Retirement Age
• No penalty for the first $17,040 you earn by working (in 2018) 1
 Beyond $17,040, for every $2 you earn, $1 is withheld from your benefit.
For example, if you earned $20,000, your Social Security payments would be
reduced by $1,480.
 In year of retirement, the income threshold counts only for those months retired. 2
• Exception, in the year you reach your full retirement age:
 Your earnings limit increases to $45,360 (in 2018), and
 Your penalty is reduced to $1 withheld for every $3 you earn up until
the month you reach your Normal Retirement Age 1
• Once you reach Normal Retirement Age, there is no limit on the amount you
can earn while collecting full Social Security retirement benefits1
Source: 1) http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/rtea.html

10. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Social Security
Estimated monthly benefits for a person born in 1958
Source: Social Security
Administration Quick
Calculator,
www.ssa.gov. For
illustrative purposes
only. Data assumes
person currently earns
$50,000 per year and
has earned at least 40
credits and does not
take into account a
person’s actual lifetime
earnings. A person’s
actual lifetime earnings
will affect the actual
amount received. Data
assumes constant 2018
dollars.
Source: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/cgi-bin/benefit6.cgi

11. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Social Security
The Future of Social Security
 If you are age 37 right now…
 If Social Security is not changed…
Source: The 2014 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust
Funds – Trustees Report Summary http://www.ssa.gov/oact/tr/2014- 2014

12. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Medicare
For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov
 Federal health insurance
 Age 65
 Medicare has four parts
• Hospital insurance (Part A)
• Medical insurance (Part B)
• Medicare Advantage (Part C)*
• Prescription drug coverage (Part D)
* People with Medicare
Parts A and B can
choose to receive all of
their health care services
through one of these
provider organizations
under Part C.

13. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Medicare
For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov
 To Qualify for Medicare
• Generally Age 65 or older
• You or your spouse paid into Social Security for at least 10 years
• Citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
 Current Part A Coverages
(Exceptions apply)
• Inpatient hospital care
• Skilled nursing facility
• Limited home health care
• Hospice care
• Inpatient psychiatric care
Examples of Part A Exclusions
 Cosmetic surgery
 Private room

14. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Medicare
For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov
 Current Part B Coverages
(Exceptions apply)
• Doctors’ fees
• Surgical services
• Diagnostic
• Emergency room
Examples of Part B Exclusions
 Custodial care
 Dental
 Glasses
 Hearing aids

15. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Medicare
For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov
 Part A Hospital Costs*
Your costs are:
• Days 1–60: $1,340 deductible for each benefit period in 2018.
• Days 61–90: $335 coinsurance per day of each benefit period in 2018.
• Days 91 and beyond: $670 coinsurance per each "lifetime reserve day" after day
90 for each benefit period (up to 60 days over your lifetime) in 2018.
• Beyond lifetime reserve days: all costs.
 Part A Skilled Nursing Costs*
(Certain requirements must be met to qualify)
• $0 for the first 20 days each benefit period.
• $167.50 per day for days 21-100 each benefit period in 2018.
• All costs for each day after day 100 in a benefit period.
Source: http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/skilled-nursing-facility-care.html

16. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Medicare
For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov
Medicare Part B Costs
Include the below premium as well as co-payments and coinsurance. You pay
$183 per year for your Part B deductible in 2018.1
Source: http://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs/part-b-costs.html

17. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
Long-Term Care
Long-Term Care —
 Care needed when you cannot
perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Eating
• Dressing
• Bathing
• Maintaining continence
• Toileting
• Transferring
 Administered in:
• The individual’s home
• An assisted living facility
• A nursing home

18. GE-134253 (03/18) (exp. 03/20)
Long-Term Care
 The average cost of a semi-private room in a nursing
home costs $7,148 in 2017.1
 70% of seniors will need long term service and support
because of physical or cognitive impairment. The average
length of time a senior adult will need assistance with
activities of daily living is 3 years.2
Sources:
1) Genworth 2017 Cost of Care Survey, https://www.genworth.com/corporate/about-genworth/industry-expertise/cost-of-care.html,
2) Visualizing Health Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation. August 28, 2013. Volume 310, Number 8

19. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
recap
Retirement as we know it is changing!
Knowing the facts about Social Security, Medicare,
and Long-Term Care can help you plan accordingly for
your retirement.
See your financial professional about setting up a
meeting to discuss your future financial needs.
1
2
3

20. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
additional information
www.medicare.gov
www.ssa.gov
www.eldercare.gov
www.cms.hhs.gov
These links are provided for your informational purposes only. AXA Equitable does not endorse or recommend these
links and takes no responsibility for any content provided on a website.

21. GE-134253 (03/18) (Exp. 03/20)
evaluation form
We greatly appreciate your feedback and truly believe in the
impact of financial education.

22. GE-134253 (03/18) (exp. 03/20)
If you have any questions or would like to schedule
a complimentary initial meeting, please email us at
info@ascendplanning.com or call (703) 205-0402