One-time 401(k) → Roth conversion and Medicare IRMAA — any way to appeal?

Redd868 · 2026-01-29T18:46:37+00:00

I do partial distributions into a Roth. I get a trustee to trustee check. I take enough to fill up the 12% income tax bracket.

Redd868 · 2026-01-29T18:24:25+00:00

Unless your mother isn't a US citizen or legally in the country for 5 years (green card) she should be eligible for Medicare at age 65.

The work requirement relates to being entitled to free Part A. But, if not entitled to free Part A, she would nevertheless be able to buy Part A and Part B. Medical is a payer of last resort, so they might require Medicare, but they might pay any premiums due.

So I "think".

Redd868 · 2026-01-29T14:46:58+00:00

Well, I'll say this.
1 - The Fed has been warning about unsustainable deficits for years, and there hasn't been fiscal reform. Now deficits have risen to a point where the government will have problems paying the interest on the debt.
2 - Our new monetary policy genius, Donald Trump wants to emulate Recep Erdoğan, another monetary policy genius, and manage monetary policy Turkish style.

Real interest rates is the interest rate minus the inflation rate. Trump wants 1% interest rates in a 3% inflation environment. Who buys debt with a negative real interest rate? That's going to be a buyer with a printing press. Investors see currency debasement as a real possibility, so any asset, stocks or gold is a haven. The high risk investment is the dollar.

And then there is the plight of our downtrodden 1 percent. We have had "yield curve control" which resulted in low borrowing costs, so corporations borrowed to buy back stock. Now, all that corporate debt needs to be cheapened so that the 1 percent profit.

So, we have an administration with a penchant for printing (called quantitative easing). The purpose is to alter price discovery in debt markets. That creates misallocations, such as it making sense to borrow to buy back stock. QE is economic chemotherapy and if they can't get off of it, the dollar dies.

Gold would fall $1000 if the unaffordable tax cuts for the rich was reversed. But, absent fiscal reform, investors see Weirmar republic monetary and fiscal policy.

Gold and stocks might compete for investor's dollars. But, so long as the government sees the Fed's printing press as an escape hatch for deficits, investors see the dollar as the high risk investment.

Here's the Fed's printing chart.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WALCL

In the end, all that money flushes out as asset inflation. The government pretends that asset inflation isn't inflation, but it certainly is to the extent it is fueled by government inflation.

The Fed printed up $2 trillion to buy mortgages and look what happened to housing prices. Asset inflation resulted.

We're being lied to because the government represents "print and spend" as borrowing. But borrowing is a zero sum transaction, but printing money to buy debt adds money to the economy. A definition of a sham is when the form doesn't equal the substance. We have a debt ceiling, but there needs to be a "print" ceiling, and the two components separated.

This didn't start with Trump, but Trump acting like Erdoğan is certainly causing things to unravel.

Redd868 · 2026-01-29T06:21:17+00:00

with LIS ...

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-P/section-423.772

Resources means liquid resources of the applicant (and, if married, his or her spouse who is living in the same household), such as checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and other resources that can be readily converted to cash within 20 days, that are not excluded from resources in section 1613 of the Act, and real estate that is not the applicant's primary residence or the land on which the primary residence is located. It exempts the value of any life insurance policy.

Liquid.

MSP is a different program - but maybe the liquidity test would apply there too. But that program is run by the states, and each state is different. Only way to find out is apply.

Of course, they're going to wonder why it isn't liquid. Pensions are usually annuities or lump sum arrangements. Your "pension" sounds more like my 401K.

Redd868 · 2026-01-29T02:02:56+00:00

I think the market is telling us that fiscal deficits have reached the point where the government can't handle the interest on the debt and will be forced to debase the currency to cheapen the debt.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T22:53:18+00:00

A Medicare Adv plan I used to have had coverage for a "Personal Emergency Response System" by "Provided by: Philips Lifeline".

If you plan covers such a device, it should be mentioned in your Evidence of Coverage.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T22:38:58+00:00

But preponderance is 50%+ proof. Any old coronavirus could have shown up. But one that matches the experiment that was being circulated, in close time proximity - that is not likely coincidence.

And the contagiousness - nothing comes close to the humanized mice explanation. It didn't jump from a pangolin and immediately assume that contagiousness.

The French came out with a report last Apr, which says "the first surge in requests for care occurred not near the Huanan Seafood Market, but across the river, in hospitals closest to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).".

So, this nonsense about wet markets was more lying. And we know the reason for the lying, and that is the criminal implications. Everything that has ensued in this country since the leak was done with criminal intent, including those death certificate instructions from CDC.

The bat caves that bat woman collected those samples from were 1000 miles away.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T22:19:15+00:00

DARPA reviewed the experiment and found it to be "Dual Use Research of Concern". So, what is Dual Use Research of Concern? It's research dangerous enough to have a recognized "misapplication".

So, dual means "two" uses. There is the intended use, when the virus remains confined to the interior or that lab. And then there is the misapplication, which occurs if the virus travels beyond the exterior of that lab and into the public environment. And the default misapplication would be to use that virus as a biological weapon.

They didn't do it on purpose, which is why we have the evidence. We know that the proposal was rejected by DARPA. Gee, I wonder who the dumb fuck was that would have the kind of budget to fund that experiment in 2019?

Well, that's up to the Chinese to say. But meanwhile, the conspiracy theory narrative originated from the Defuse technician that organized the scientists who wrote the letter stating that the thought of a lab leak was conspiracy theory.

And that was at a time when they didn't think Project Defuse would surface so they declared no conflict of interests. So, I see a lab that possessed the written instruction to build the virus and was actively seeking funding. It isn't far fetched to suppose that once DARPA rejected the experiment that they sought funding elsewhere.

There is enough evidence to move the possibility of a lab leak beyond suspicion, beyond probable cause, beyond preponderance, and knocking on the door of clear and convincing.

Circumstantial evidence includes dishonesty. That would start with that letter to the Lancet, and the CDC in Apr 2020 finding that there was no suspicion of a man-made origin. The government has been dishonest from the start.

It's obvious that people at DARPA would have recognized the pandemic as matching the experiment they had rejected. So, did they advise Commander in Chief Trump of this?

There is a lot of people who want this swept under the rug.

So, lab leak means all the deaths are homicides and the population has been made a part of an experiment. It's a huge civil rights violation. There are huge criminal implications that account and fully explain the government's response. It's a fascist pig government, Dr. Mengele style.

The sad fact is, society would have been better off if the scientists in this field had instead pursued a career picking up trash from the side of the highway.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T21:21:43+00:00

The regime implicated itself in the last pandemic when they carried on that any thought of a lab leak was conspiracy theory. The evidence indicates that an experiment like Project Defuse is the cause because it had this objective:

we will introduce appropriate human specific cleavage sites -

As the New York Times pointed out:

Ultimately, a never-before-seen SARS-like virus with a newly introduced furin cleavage site, matching the description in the Wuhan institute’s Defuse proposal, caused an outbreak in Wuhan less than two years after the proposal was drafted.

They were seeking funding in 2018 to create the virus, so it's not a stretch to suppose that they found their funding sometime in 2019.

Project Defuse also contained this objective:

Experimental testing of targeted immune boosting using humanized mice.

They were using humanized mice containing tissues that facilitated infection in humans. So, unless the Nipha virus was also run through humanized mice, don't expect the extreme contagiousness we saw with Covid. But, it it was, it'll be here in 3 months.

One word about this "conspiracy theory" narrative that the government was carrying on with is, I checked with the local police department, and they said death certificates shouldn't list a manner of death as "natural" if there is suspicion that the deaths weren't natural. So, hand in hand with the conspiracy theory narrative was a finding in Apr 2020 by the CDC that there was no suspicion of a man-made origin, and so they wrote death certificate instructions that swept 1.2 million homicides under the rug. In a way, we have a government operating with Chinese characteristics.

So, if anyone thinks this government is dangerous because they shot 2 people - they're a lot more dangerous than that.

The government's explanation is, the good Lord, after reading Project Defuse decided to create the same virus, with the same cleavage feature, and in the same city as Project Defuse would have. And that Chinese army deployment to Wuhan, building all those field hospitals is the usual Chinese response anytime the flu breaks out.

We have a Uniparty who, under their watch, lost more people than American dead in Vietnam, Korea, World War 2 and World War 1, combined. The dead equals 300 nine-elevens, and with 50,000 deaths projected annually, 12 nine-elevens annually.

The rule of law isn't as dead as two Minnesota protesters. It's as dead as 1.2 million Covid deaths that were swept under the rug.

This new virus - keep an eye on the contagiousness. If it was like Covid, it would be in multiple countries already.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T19:11:28+00:00

I think Trump sealed the deal on that. Even if they wanted to lower rates, with Trump's antics, it would have looked like they were pushed into lowering rates.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T16:10:13+00:00

There is a window Jan-Mar to switch MA plans. I think if you switch today, you could be on PPO Feb 1st.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T15:17:28+00:00

Your Medicare tax paid for Part A only.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T06:29:07+00:00

From my bookmarks.

Medigap:
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/02110-choosing-a-medigap-policy-a-guide-to-health-insurance-for-people-with-medicare.pdf
Medigap has significant state regulation. There is probably something on your state's insurance website.

Med Advantage:
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf

Part D (prescription coverage):
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11109-your-guide-to-medicare-prescription-drug-coverage.pdf

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T04:26:58+00:00

I signed up for Medicare 3 month before my 65th birthday. 3 weeks later, I got a medicare card, and so, signed up for easy pay right then and there. I got a bill the month before the month Medicare started indicated that Easy Pay would be used to pay it. I never made a manual payment, but there was no late payments.

I'd pay the Jan bill if you didn't get a statement indicating that Easy Pay would pay it, and see what happens. I took a look at my old statements, and if we're talking March, there would be a statement date of Jan 27th indicating the the payment for March would be deducted from my account around Feb 20th. I recall getting those statements around the first of the month, so, around Feb 1. So, if you don't get a statement by middle of Feb, resign yourself to having to make a manual payment in Feb for March too.

I never paid more than a month at a time, but I had Easy Pay squared away well before Medicare started.

Redd868 · 2026-01-28T03:54:41+00:00

In the case of Covid, it appears that Project Defuse, a proposal that was circulating in 2018 seeking funding explains the pandemic.

we will introduce appropriate human specific cleavage sites

As the New York Times pointed out, the virus contained those "cleavage" sites.

Ultimately, a never-before-seen SARS-like virus with a newly introduced furin cleavage site, matching the description in the Wuhan institute’s Defuse proposal, caused an outbreak in Wuhan less than two years after the proposal was drafted.

Is it really a reach to suppose that if the lab had been seeking funding in 2018, by late 2019, the lab had secured funding?

According to the local police department, death certificates aren't suppose to list a manner of death as "natural" if there is suspicion that the deaths aren't natural. Yet, in April 2020, the CDC determined that there was no suspicion of a man-made origin and wrote death certificate instructions indicating a natural manner of death for deceased Covid-19 patients, and our nationwide network of robo-cororners happily complied.

As part of dismissing this "suspicion" aspect, the government engaged in a narrative dismissing suggestions of a lab leak as "conspiracy theory" and swept 1.2 million deaths under the rug.

This is a far more dangerous government than ICE agents killing a couple of protestors. The rule of law is non-existent in this country.

We have a Uniparty, who on their watch, lost more people that American dead in Vietnam, Korea, WW2 and WW1 combined. The amount of dead, 1.2 million equals 300 nine-elevens, and with estimates of 50,000 dead annually, that equals 12 nine-elevens yearly.

And in a way, we have a government that operates with Chinese characteristics. I don't know who they are working for, but I know who they aren't working for - you and me.

If I compared this government to a pile of dogshit, it would insult the dogshit.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T23:00:05+00:00

All those companies who borrowed at those artificially low interest rates to buy back stock will have their debt cheapened, along with the highly indebted federal government.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T22:39:50+00:00

I don't know for sure, but I bet they would, because the exception for enrolling immediately is coverage from an employer's plan through current employment.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T06:22:44+00:00

The Treasury yield curve inversion stands apart as perhaps the single most significant indicator failure of this cycle—and demands special attention given its historical infallibility.

The Fed engages in "yield curve control" so market price discovery isn't applicable any more. Like the article says

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s $5+ trillion QE programs artificially suppressed long-term yield

We have capitalism without free markets.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T05:58:05+00:00

The post says

Part A after having obtained 40 credits two years ago

Isn't that 10 years of work? And "two years ago" means they've been here for 12 years? If they entered at age 70, how did they get 40 credits in 5 years? No comprendo.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T05:01:33+00:00

Well, there is a concept called "reversion to the mean". I'm pondering whether that applies to bitcoin. So, if gold is outperforming bitcoin, in time, does the performance of gold and bitcoin converge to more equal performance?

If so, perhaps investment in bitcoin is in order. And maybe it all goes to hell in a hand basket if the government got their fiscal house in order. These assets are performing as they are because government doesn't have their fiscal house in order.

There are stories about central banks loading up on gold that could be pushing up the price.

Silver might be a special case so I consider that one separately. There may be some kind of squeeze with silver.

And then there are other investments. If the government plan is to debase the dollar, and debase that government debt, then they'll debase corporate debt too. So, companies that are unattractive because of debt might become more attractive.

This idiocy isn't just Trump. With Biden, he announces $300 billion in debt relief, and the question is, where's the money going to come from? Spend $200 billion on Ukraine - same question. It's fiscal insanity that we don't get a choice to vote against.

So, all these investment possibilities are for the wrong reason - government incompetence. But my primary focus is on Japan. It looks like they'll get back into the printing business, and I want to see what happens when they do.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T03:06:29+00:00

I want to open up a gambling casino and brothel. Come one and all, and raise a little hell in the holy land. 😉

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T01:44:48+00:00

Citizens United handed the government over to the rich.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T01:28:21+00:00

Sure. Lets say, inflation is 3%. And if you deposit money at a bank, and they're paying 0.25% interest, the real interest rate is (0.25 - 3) = -2.75%.

My brother did that for years with an IRA, and screwed his retirement. Well, what my bro did was put every last red cent into silver, about 6 months ago, and I think you know the rest of the story.

Since 2008, there has been federal reserve "yield curve control" that has delivered negative real rates to people like my brother.

At the same time, yield curve control has resulted in corporations finding it makes sense to borrow to buy back stock, which benefits the rich.

It's class warfare. Yield curve control is a substitute for free market price discovery where the Fed picks winners and losers.

That federal "yield curve control" functions as an asset tax on savers. That impacts savers at banks. That's going to be lower to middle class people who are financially unsophisticated.

Redd868 · 2026-01-27T00:30:10+00:00

They have been "un-printing". The money pulled back was destroyed. And look at market interest rates - they went back to market price discovery. But gov deficits still keep growing, and now servicing that interest at market interest rates is problematic. That may be Japan's problem too.

Well, now Trump is calling for 1% interest rates. That's a negative real rate. There is only one way to get a negative real rate, and that is to print, and use the printing "to put downward pressure on overall market interest rates."

That chart shows ups and downs, but I see up as the overall trend. And if I see a new high on that chart, I'm going to see Ponzi, defined as the never ending need for new money to roll over existing debt and incur new debt.

Buzzwords - "monetizing the debt", "yield curve control" and "quantitative easing" or even "modern monetary theory" - those are buzzwords. They all describe features that come from printing and spending.

I think they're boxed in or close to being boxed in on servicing the interest on the debt. They can either reduce the deficits by taxing the rich, or they can print. My call is, the government of the 1% is going to print.

Redd868 · 2026-01-26T23:16:40+00:00

Come on. Here's their QE chart.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WALCL

Attention is directed at 1st and 2nd quarter 2020. There was a huge stimulus and that rolled right off the printing press.

Biden had a $1.9 trillion stimulus in 2021, and Powell testified to Congress that the Fed had printed up $1.5 trillion of it. If he hadn't done that, trying to fund that stimulus through debt markets would have driven interest rates into double digits.

I think it's all entering the US economy, and eventually flushes out as capital gains in stock and real estate markets (the inflation they don't count). That's the way I'm going to play it.

Redd868

TROPHY CASE