C&R Benefits Center

09/15/2026

If you make quarterly estimated tax payments, mark your calendar. The third estimated tax payment for 2026 is due September 15.

Self-employed individuals, retirees, investors, and others who have income that isn’t subject to withholding may need to make estimated tax payments. Making payments on time can help taxpayers avoid an unexpected tax bill or possible penalties.

Learn more about estimated taxes from the : www.irs.gov/estimatedtaxes

09/03/2026

Wow, day 3 of the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum! We’re receiving so much valuable information and insight. Grateful for the opportunity to learn directly from the experts and bring this knowledge back to better serve our clients.

08/30/2026

Medicare, Medicare Supplements, and Medicare Advantage plans can be a blessing—but they do NOT cover long‑term care or extended home health care the way many people think.

That means things like:

Ongoing help with bathing, dressing, eating, or moving around
Long stays in a nursing home or assisted living
Home health aides coming regularly for months to help you stay safely at home
Medicare will usually only cover short‑term, skilled care (like therapy or nursing after a hospital stay)—not long‑term custodial care.

At C&R Benefits Center (Coleman & Refuge), we help fill that gap for clients in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia with:

Long‑Term Care insurance – to help pay for nursing home, assisted living, or extended in‑home care
Short‑Term Home Health Care plans – for people who want extra protection for a period of care at home
If you’re planning ahead for yourself or a loved one, and you’ve been assuming “Medicare will take care of it,” this is the time to find out what’s really covered.

📲 Call or text 336‑285‑9542 to talk about Long‑Term Care and Short‑Term Home Health Care options, and how they can work alongside your Medicare coverage.

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

If you’re on a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) will start showing up in the mail soon.

Please don’t throw it away.

That packet tells you what’s changing on your plan for next year:

Premiums and copays
Drug formulary (which prescriptions are covered)
Networks (doctors, hospitals, pharmacies)
Sometimes the changes are small. Sometimes they’re big—and you don’t want to be surprised in January.

At C&R Benefits Center, we help seniors in NC, SC, GA, OH, MD, and VA:

Review your ANOC letter
Check your prescriptions and doctors
See if it makes sense to stay put or look at other options

No pressure, no rushing—just clear explanations so you understand what’s happening with your coverage.

📲 When your ANOC arrives, call 336‑285‑9542 if you’d like help going through it.

08/25/2026

What Training Is Involved with Medicare?

There’s a lot of training behind the scenes to make sure people get accurate Medicare help:

Licensed agents/brokers -

Must hold a state insurance license
Complete annual Medicare training and exams (like AHIP and carrier-specific training)
Follow strict Medicare marketing and compliance rules

SHIP counselors (free state programs) -

Trained and certified to explain Parts A, B, C & D, Extra Help, and plan comparisons

Medicare staff & call centers -

Receive ongoing training on rules, enrollment periods, and coverage changes

👉 C&R Benefits Center is dedicated to staying on top of all upcoming training and changes in Medicare so we can give you accurate, up‑to‑date guidance on your options. Have questions? Feel free to reach out.

08/24/2026

If Medicare for All is approved, will my benefits run out?

No. In Medicare for All proposals, benefits don’t work like a savings account that can be “used up.”

Coverage is ongoing, as long as the law exists and you meet residency rules.
It’s funded by taxes collected every year, not by an individual pot of money.
What can change over time (just like with today’s Medicare or private insurance) are:

Tax rates
What’s covered
Rules for how you use the system
So the main risk isn’t that your benefits “run out,” but that future laws could change the program.

08/22/2026

Does everyone qualify for Original Medicare?

No. You generally qualify if you’re 65+ and a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident here 5+ years, or under 65 with disability (SSDI for 24 months), ALS, or kidney failure (ESRD).

Work history affects whether Part A is free or you pay a premium.

Got questions? We're all ears! Slide into our DMs and let’s chat!

08/22/2026

No, this is not new. Self-employment tax (which includes Social Security and Medicare taxes for self-employed individuals) effectively started in the 1951 tax year.

Paying your self-employment tax isn’t just the law—it’s how you build your future Social Security benefits.

When you pay self-employment tax, you’re:

Earning credits toward Social Security retirement
Protecting yourself with potential disability (SSDI) coverage
Helping provide survivor benefits for your family

In other words, those payments aren’t just money out—they’re an investment in your own safety net later in life.

Got questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out—give us a call and let’s chat!