There are good and bad news for seniors. The good news is that they have received a cost of living increase in their Social Security benefits , the bad news is that Medicare has also increased its cost. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has revealed to the public that premiums for its Part B plan will increase by about 6% in 2025. For those who choose to enroll in Part B, the cost will be automatically deducted from their Social Security checks. For those who don not know, Medicare is divided into four parts: When talking about Part B, the majority of retirees choose this option instead of going through Part C , as the cost is a lot lower than going through an insurance company for the majority of Americans. Between Parts A and B most services are covered and retirees can have healthy happy life when combined with Part D for those who take a lot of medications. What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2025? According to a statement released by the CMS on Friday, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will climb by $10.30, or about 6%, to $185.00 from $174.70 in 2024. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will also rise to $257 in 2025 from $240. This is not a surprise for retirees, as, the CMS explains, this increase is due to “projected price changes and assumed utilization increases that are consistent with historical experience.” Even though it may seem like it, prices for Medicare don’t go up every year. In fact, in 2023 the premium for Part B was $164.90, which was over $5 lower than the year before. Medicare Part B monthly premiums are calculated based on the beneficiaries income, which means that those in the wealthier tiers also must pay an additional Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA , which, data from the CMS reflects, impacts about 8% of those with Medicare Part B. In general, married individuals who lived with their spouses at any point during the year and file separate tax returns with a modified adjusted gross income of $106,000 or less are required to pay only the standard Medicare Part B premium of $185 per month. Those whose incomes fall between $106,000 and $394,000 will pay an IRMAA of $406.90 in addition to the $185 premium, totaling $591.90 each month. Seniors with incomes exceeding $394,000 will face an IRMAA of $443.90, bringing their total monthly payment, with the standard premium, to $628.90.Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Viking Yi Dun in The Bund in Shanghai Of all the tourism trends predicted for 2025, from AI-generated itineraries to destination dupes, I’m most excited about the continuing rise of solo female travel. Like many other women since the pandemic, I’ve tapped into the inimitable joys of solo adventures. Most of these trips, however, have involved playing it safe: driving around the country, or jetting off to well-trodden destinations in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. And as much as I love cruises, I never imagined taking (let alone, enjoying) one on my own—mostly because I was afraid of feeling lonely, surrounded by couples and other twosomes having the time of their lives. But when I decided to join Viking Yi Dun’ s inaugural sailing of China Discovery , a 10-day voyage spotlighting coastal destinations from Shanghai to Shenzhen, back in September, I realized something: it wasn’t so long ago when I insisted on a sidekick during roadtrips and overnights at hotels. So, what if cruising alone as a woman could be just as fulfilling? As it turns out, the experience was beyond rewarding. While the trip wasn’t without some hiccups—remember, this was a new itinerary for Viking —overall it exceeded my expectations. More importantly, it got me excited to cruise on my own again. Below are three reasons why Viking ocean cruises are a smart choice for solo women travelers. Convenience Viking Yi Dun's Explorers Lounge Here’s one of the most convenient things about Viking’s ocean ships: their deck plans are identical. I’d taken the Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada cruise a few months prior and the Viking Homelands cruise last year, so I knew where everything was located, from Deck 1’s Nordic Spa to the Explorer’s Lounge on Deck 7 and 8 (my favorite quiet place to work). Not wasting time to memorize the ship’s layout translated into more time doing exactly what I wanted. A Penthouse veranda stateroom on Viking Yi Dun Though Yi Dun’s layout was familiar, there were key differences setting it apart from the rest of Viking’s ocean fleet. Because the ship (first unveiled in 2017 as the Viking Sun) was the result of a unique partnership between Viking and China Merchants Group that resulted in its sale to China in 2021, it got rebranded as Yi Dun and now flies the Chinese flag; this permits unprecedented access to ports previously inaccessible to other major cruise lines. In addition the all-Chinese staff, there are nods to the ship’s adopted homeland throughout, such as customized Freyja bathroom amenities, regional cuisine, and Chinese signage. There is one downside worth noting: Viking doesn’t have staterooms expressly for solo travelers. However, the company does occasionally offer specially-priced single supplements, so it’s best to check the website for updates. Flexibility Viking Yi Dun in Dongtou, China Unlike smaller expedition and river ships, Viking’s ocean vessels hold up to 930 passengers—so you have ample opportunities to mingle with other people if you wish, especially during meals and excursions. Conversely: if you’re in a more solitary mood, it’s easier to keep a low profile and not bump into the same faces over and over again, as you would on smaller vessels. Viking Yi Dun's Chef's Table rotated between Japanese and Korean, Thai, and Singaporean tasting menus. Destination-focused dining has long been one of Viking’s strongsuits, but Yi Dun really excelled in this regard. While the restaurant concepts were the same ones you’d find on every ocean ship, there was a thoughtful effort to immerse guests in local cuisine while offering lots of flexibility and options. The World Café’s buffet was stocked day-to-night with an enticing display of sweet and savory Chinese classics, from jian dui (fried sesame balls) to made-to-order dan dan noodles, while the Pool Grill served up Chinese-style chicken thigh burgers. The Chef’s Table featured three tasting menus rotating between Japanese-Korean—I savored the Korean BBQ tofu accompanied by perilla leaves and kimchi fried rice—Thai, and Singaporean cuisines. Even in-room dining had locally-curated options; the kung pao chicken was a standout. Torshavn, the popular late night hangout, also got a rebrand as 1872, the year China Merchants Group was established. No matter the craving or time of day, I could always find what I looking for. Safety A festive welcome at Dongtou for Viking Yi Dun passengers While safety takes top billing for most solo female travelers, it holds even more importance when exploring lesser-known parts of the world like China’s coast. In addition to offering assistance with processing visas ahead of the cruise, Viking made sure everyone felt completely safe from embarkation to disembarkation. Guanyin Altar in Mount Putuo, China Excursions, in particular, were organized with great care. Guests were welcomed at nearly every port of call with a friendly crew (and sometimes, lively performances), perhaps vendors selling souvenirs, and dedicated staff to help navigate to where to go. Though the excursions varied in terms of enrichment—which I expected since this was China Discovery’s first sailing—at least guests were able to access to parts of China unfamiliar to most foreigners. I especially enjoyed Architecture of Gulangyu, a guided walking tour that opened my eyes to the multi-cultural history and storied buildings of the tiny pedestrian-only island off the coast of Xiamen. Another reason why Viking ocean cruises feel so safe is by design; picture them as luxury floating hotels. They include the modern-day comforts, upscale amenities, and attentive staff—all of whom have undergone extensive training to assist with a range of requests, from logistical to medical—you’d expect from five-star properties, but have to the ability to navigate you to multiple destinations across water. Also have peace of mind knowing that most of these vessels boast a one-to-two staff-to-guest ratio, ensuring extra attentive service and care. Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades Join The Conversation One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Forbes Community Guidelines Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space. In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's Terms of Service. We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil. 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The other day we told you about Jaguar's weird , woke rebranding and the ad that raised more than a few eyebrows. The entire thing was bizarre, mostly because Jaguar clearly isn't reading the room: that woke nonsense is dying out (thank goodness). They were absolutely dragged for it and the critics were right. If this writer didn't know Jaguar sold cars, she wouldn't have had a clue about that ad and -- if she were to ever be in the market for a luxury vehicle -- the ad didn't make her want to buy a Jaguar. You'd think they'd listen to the reaction of the car buying public and rethink this ad. You'd think wrong. They doubled down in this vaguely threatening way: Soon you'll see things our way. This writer guarantees you she won't. But you do you, Jaguar. That sounds like a threat. pic.twitter.com/eOvLtxdAud Laughed out loud. No, we really won't. Read the room!🙄 This seems like the most basic function of the advertising department: reading the room. Guess not. Or your customers will "Bud Light" you into irrelevance, which is more likely Going the Bud Light route is far more likely. Have you lost your minds? Customers dictate what customers want! Shoving this down our throats is offensive. Soon YOU will see things OUR way... They sure will. Great campaign, guys. pic.twitter.com/jWnZltrNEn Same vibes, really. Cool. Here's our way. pic.twitter.com/kxUNwmsyqi Boom. “Our way”? wtf? How about seeing things in your customer’s way? Are you a business or an activist group? You can’t be both. They're gonna learn they can't be both. The hard way, if necessary. If this is your way, that's not the way we'd like to go 🫣🙃 pic.twitter.com/7jAiEYqRqV Nope. The best part is that the marketing team has to be giving themselves high-fives at this point. https://t.co/hxgf2VLeea They'll do that right up until the second they land on the unemployment line. Prolly not https://t.co/TExvsglZLB Definitely not. Whoever the kid behind the social media account is, you don't understand the Jaguar history. I knew Nick Scheele before he was knighted and became the CEO. My ex was the governor (Plant manager for Americans) You have sullied Nick's reputation and the Jaguar name. https://t.co/6yXNYRqIho They sure have. This kind of evil, condescending crap is why I will never even consider buying a Jaguar. https://t.co/RBT6EmZ5pB Never. This writer could win the lottery tomorrow and she wouldn't drop a dime on Jaguar. Aston Martin's ugly sister says what?!?! https://t.co/U1O3kh4PE0 James Bond like this insult. Kind of an amazing reply actually https://t.co/B7Ex1a6gci Actually, it kind of is.
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