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Medicare Archives
Almost Two Million Seniors Snared In Medicare Means Test Trap
Tens of Thousands Charged Too Much Will Demand Reviews; Government Set To Rake In Undeserved Millions Questions & Answers
My wife Janet turned 65 years old the 4th of December. She is still working as a nurse and intends to keep working until she is 65 and 9 months old and then apply for Social Security. Does she need to apply for Medicare now? — E. Ask the Advisor - Tax on Social Security Benefits Is Double Taxation!
Despite multiple tax cuts in recent years, Social Security recipients got no relief from the taxation of Social Security benefits. Medicare Part B Premium Increases 5.6% For Most Seniors As High As 83% For Some As Means Testing Begins
TSCL Concerned Over High Risk Of “Glitches” Social Security Benefits Will Shrink Unless Medicare Premiums Slow
Rising Medicare premiums will soon consume the entire Social Security COLA that seniors receive each year, warns one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Medicare Premiums May Shrink Your Social Security Check Next Year
Updated Medicare Part B Premium Projections for 2008, 2009
H.R. 5147, to repeal Means Testing of Medicare Premiums
To repeal the income-related increase in Medicare Part B premiums that was enacted as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 Medicare Means Testing Means Trouble
For the first time since Medicare’s creation, Medicare Part B – which covers doctors’ visits, tests, and outpatient hospital care – will be "means tested," meaning seniors earning more than $80,000 per year will pay more for services than lower-income seniors. (Originally appeared in the Rocky Mountain News, September 1, 2006) Totalization in the News
Estimated Part B Premiums 2007 - 2009 As Means Testing Begins
Effective January 1, 2007, the government will start determining the Medicare Part B premium based on a person's income. Ask the Advisor - Higher Part B Premiums For Those With Higher Incomes?
Regarding higher Part B premiums for those with higher income as you reported in the March 2006 issue of this newsletter. Medicare's "Doughnut Hole" Surprise Awaits
New enrollees of Medicare drug plans may be stunned this summer or early fall when their new coverage suddenly stops. Higher Medicare Premium Costs May Cut Social Security Benefits Next Year
Higher Medicare premiums are likely to cut Social Security benefits for many seniors in 2007. Delays Could Hit Low-Income Beneficiaries With Part D Late Enrollment Penalty
A last-minute rush to enroll in Medicare Part D drug plans could bog down an already complicated process, warns a national non-partisan seniors issue advocacy organization. Enrolled In A New Drug Plan?
New Medicare drug plans may help many save on prescription costs especially if you formerly had no drug coverage. Senate Takes Up "Guest Worker" Immigration Legislation
A highly contentious debate over immigration reform is underway in Congress Confusion Deterring Part D Enrollment Says 2006 Advisor Senior Survey
Seniors' confusion over Medicare Part D is turning out to be a major deterrent to enrollment. "Part D" Problems Continue to Emerge
Medicare Part D was barely in operation a month before Congress had called two hearings on widespread problems. Confusion Deterring Part D Enrollment, Survey Says
Confusion over Medicare Part D is turning out to be a major deterrent to enrollment in the program, says a national nonpartisan senior issues advocacy organization. Medicare Premium "Sticker Shock" Ahead
A little-known provision of the 2003 Medicare legislation is likely to cause "sticker shock" for hundreds of thousands of seniors next year, warns a national non-partisan seniors issue advocacy organization. Transition To Medicare Drug Benefit "Nightmare" For Many
The launch of the new Medicare Part D drug program in early January came as a shock to millions of the nation's sickest and poorest seniors and disabled. Medicaid Patients Denied Drug Benefits Under Medicare Part D
Drug coverage under state Medicaid programs recently ended for six million of the nation’s poorest Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare Part "D" For Doubt
Transition to Medicare Part D Requires Back Up Plan
On New Year's Eve Medicaid drug coverage will end for more than six million of the nation's lowest-income seniors - including a majority of the residents of the nation's nursing homes. Many Seniors Will Spend Far More Than Necessary On Part D Plans
Without Internet access, and impartial help, many seniors will spend far more than necessary on Medicare Part D drug plans, warns a national non-partisan senior issues advocacy organization. Senior CPI Would Cover Significant Portion Of Medicare Premium
This month, Medicare Part B premiums jumped 13% while Social Security benefits increased just 4.1%. An Open Letter to Members of Congress
Dear Members of Congress,
Medicare "Part D" is ill conceived and out of line. Part D Enrollment: "A Stunningly Complicated Ordeal"
"Why would Congress create a drug benefit like this?" Medicare Part D Off to Rocky Start
The roll out of the new Medicare "Part D" drug program is off to a very rocky start. Delay Could Make Medicare Drug Coverage Costly
Confusion and indecision about whether to sign up for a new Medicare drug plan may be very costly to those who delay, warns a national non-partisan seniors issues advocacy organization. Higher Heating and Medicare Costs Will Obliterate COLA
Soaring home heating and Medicare costs will completely obliterate the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for substantial numbers of retirees, warns a national nonpartisan seniors issues advocacy organization. Medicare Premium Increases 13%, 2006 COLA 4.1%Senior COLA Legislation Gains Support
The Medicare Part B premium and deductible are poised to take another leap of 13% on January 1, 2006. Simplify Our Drug Benefit! TSCL Concerns Mount as Biggest Expansion in Medicare’s History Begins
The biggest expansion in Medicare’s history is underway, and the complicated new drug program is creating huge implementation challenges for Medicare and state Medicaid programs. Proposal Would Make Seniors Pay Significantly Higher Medicare Costs
Seniors would pay significantly higher costs for Medicare under recent proposals to "offset" the government's cost of hurricane relief, warns a national nonpartisan seniors issues advocacy organization[1]. Wrong Choice of Medicare Drug Plan Could Be Costly, Seniors Should Be Wary of Scams
Seniors should be wary of aggressive marketing of Medicare prescription drug plans, warns a national nonpartisan seniors issue advocacy organization. Assistance For Medicare Drug Benefit Could Affect Food Stamps
Low-income seniors may literally have to choose between food or prescription drugs under the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, even if they have never done so before. Seniors to Receive Information on New Medicare Drug Benefit In October: TSCL Concerned That Seniors Will be Confused
"It takes a nuclear scientist to understand it." That's the reaction of a Washington senior after listening to a two-hour briefing on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit that starts January 1 next year. Best Web Sites for Information About the New Medicare Drug Program
Later this fall, all Medicare beneficiaries will need to make a decision about whether to enroll in one of the new Medicare drug plans to receive the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Many States Rejecting New Requirement of Medicare Drug Benefit
Many states are "openly resisting" a provision of the new Medicare drug law. Fraud Bilking Medicare, Driving Up Costs for Seniors
Medicare paid the bill — $122 million — for 21,000 artificial limbs in the Miami-Dade area over a four-month period last year. New Medicare Drug Plans Will Be Available Soon: Premiums and Coverage Vary
Seniors are likely to be besieged with a confusing welter of information this fall about the new Medicare prescription drug plans. TSCL Believes Transition to New Medicare Drug Coverage May be "Chaos"
Medicare is scheduled to start covering prescription drugs January 1 next year. Notch Babies Could Be Eligible For Extra Help Paying For New Medicare Drug Benefit
Seniors born from 1917 through 1926, known as "Notch Babies," should watch their mail for a notice from the Social Security Administration starting this month. Do You Qualify for Government-Provided Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance?
Watch your mailbox this summer. 15% Medicare Part B Premium Increase Exceeds Estimates -- TSCL Concerns Grow Over Senior Costs Under New Medicare Drug Law
Medicare Part B premiums will take another hefty jump next year. 2% COLA, 15% Jump in Medicare Part B Premium and Deductible Estimated
Seniors will continue to have Medicare cost increases that far outpace Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) next year. Delayed Medicare Enrollment Could Cost You Big
When should you enroll in Medicare Part B? Make the wrong enrollment choice, at the wrong time, and you may face a lifetime of premium penalties, or, no coverage at all. New Medicare Costs Make Breath-taking Climb
TSCL believes that significantly higher costs for seniors and major problems for Medicare are ahead. Legislative Update: Is There A Social Security or A Medicare “Crisis?”
Proponents of privatizing Social Security say that Social Security is “in crisis.” Seniors! Check Your Social Security Check
"Seniors should plan to check the amount deducted from their 2005 Social Security checks for their Medicare Part B premium," warns a national seniors issue advocacy organization. Congressional Corner: No One Should Have to Choose Between Medicines or Meals.
This spring, I held several town hall meetings in Tennessee's Fourth District to help seniors understand - and benefit from - the upcoming changes in Medicare. Medicare Premium Soars 17.5% Largest Ever - TSCL Working to Protect Seniors From Future Skyrocketing Costs
Medicare premiums will rise by the largest dollar amount in the program�s history in 2005. 17.5% Medicare Premium Makes Reimportation of Prescription Drugs Even More Critical
A record-setting 17.5% Medicare premium increase is proof the government should promptly lift the ban on reimportation of prescription drugs, states a nonpartisan senior advocacy organization. Social Security & Medicare Q&A: Medicare TRICARE Benefits
Q: If I choose not to apply for Social Security until I am 70, then am I also not eligible for Medicare until I am 70? If I do not get Medicare will my TRICARE benefits still apply until I am 70? Massive Medicare Premium Hike Will Gobble Up COLAs
Rising gasoline and energy costs are driving inflation higher than the government previously thought it would be. Steep Medicare Premium Increase Expected - Part B Deductible to Climb
Medicare is expected to announce a steep premium increase of 17% for 2005, and the higher out-of-pocket costs won�t stop there. Medicare Discount Card Program Undergoes Chaotic Launch
The government recently rolled out the new Medicare Rx prescription discount card program. U.S. Comptroller Warns: U.S. Government`s Worsening Financial Situation
�U.S. Comptroller General David Walker and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan are both warning Members of Congress, the press and the rest of the American people of the long-term lack of sustainability in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. White House Withheld Cost Information TSCL Seeks Answers to Several Questions on Legislation
The Bush Administration is under fire for withholding data that shows higher costs for last year’s hotly contested Medicare prescription drug legislation. Medicare Premium May Jump 17%, COLA Just 1.1%
Recently the Medicare and Social Security Trustees released their 2004 annual reports estimating that Medicare premiums will jump a staggering 17%, or $11.50 per month... Notch Reform Bulletin: Notch Babies and Low-Income Seniors Squeezed
Low-income seniors — including many Notch Babies — appear to be losing access to, or paying more for, their Medicaid benefits. Legislative Update Week of March 22, 2004
This week, the Medicare Board of Trustees made its annual report to Congress on the financial condition of Medicare and Social Security. New Medicare Legislation Bars Medigap Drug Insurance
Medicare beneficiaries will not be allowed to buy insurance to cover their out-of-pocket drug costs under the new Medicare drug bill. What Your Higher Medicare Premium Covers—a Medicare Blimp?
Medicare premiums jumped a hefty 13.5% in January, obliterating many seniors’ annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments. Legislative Update: Work Continues Toward Lifting the Ban on Drug Importation
Congress has passed a Medicare prescription drug bill, after six years of often-contentious debate. Congress Adds Prescription Drug Benefit
We are still learning about the Medicare prescription drug legislation that Congress passed late last year. The bill is complex and far from perfect. Medicare Premiums, Health Care Costs Obliterate Many Seniors' COLA (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (December 29, 2003) -- Medicare premiums are jumping 13.5% at the start of the year, obliterating this year's 2.1% Social Security COLA for many seniors. League-Supported Legislation Signed Into Law
TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is pleased to announce that a legislative proposal it has been monitoring and lobbying on behalf of, has been signed into public law. Legislative Update Week of December 8, 2003
TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) has long been advocating the establishment of a prescription drug benefit for seniors. Can Competition Among Health Plans Save Medicare? (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (November 13, 2003) -- Legislation to add a Medicare drug benefit is likely to add new costs to beneficiaries, but may not save Medicare, warns a national seniors organization. Health Plan Premiums Increase Eight Times Inflation Rate
For the fifth year in a row, seniors can expect double-digit health insurance rate hikes. Congressional Corner from Representative Mike Pence: Universal Medicare Drug Plan is a Prescription for Disaster
As Congress considers the largest expansion of Medicare in 35 years, it should remember that Medicare has cost the American taxpayer more than seven times the projections since it was created in the 1960s. Letter From the Editor: Would Drug Legislation Abandon A Fundamental Principle of Medicare?
Recent commentary on Medicare prescription drug legislation resembles the parable of the blind men and the elephant. Can Private Health Plans Save Money for Medicare?
President Bush and proponents in Congress believe that private health plans can provide Medicare with better health care for less money. Medicaid Beneficiaries Not Receiving Services
The federal government has allowed states to make widespread changes to Medicaid, but is not monitoring the quality of care provided or even if it is provided at all. Legislative Update: Prescription Drug Benefit for Medicare—Can We Make It Work?
Congress is engaged in a historic debate over whether our government should encourage greater competition in the health care market place to hold down health care costs and at what point the government should step in to guarantee coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. Congress Passes Medicare Drug Bills
Congress is working toward making major changes to Medicare that would add prescription drug coverage. Disabled Seniors May Not Be Receiving Necessary Benefits Under Medicaid (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (July 22, 2003) -- Linda was a 51 year old quadriplegic -- paralyzed from the neck down after a terrible accident. Legislative Update Week of June 9, 2003
Too often, veterans end up with a nasty surprise: the base nearby, which they count on for their medical care, closes. House Committee Investigates Controversy over Medicare Administrator
Members of Congress are looking into allegations of conflicts of interest concerning Medicare’s Administrator. Medicare Recipients Face Largest Premium Increase
Medicare recipients face the largest premium increase in 11 years. Legislative Update Week of June 2, 2003
It was announced this week that leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Social Security and Medicare, have reached an agreement on an outline for a prescription drug benefit. How TSCL is Working For You
TSCL Submits Statement on President’s Medicare and Medicaid Proposals; Representatives Ralph Hall and Walter Jones Receive MVP Award for 2002 Health Care Costs Bigger Problem Than Realized
Out-of-pocket health care costs are a bigger problem than policymakers may realize. HHS Inspector General Resigns
Medicare’s Inspector General (IG), Janet Rehnquist, resigned in March. Deep Medicare & Medicaid Cuts Eyed as Deficits Swell
Record high deficits have led to recent proposals to cut Medicare and Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars. Medicare Premium Estimated to Rise Five Times Faster Than COLA (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (April 24, 2003)--Medicare recipients face the largest premium increase in 11 years next year. Legislative Update: As More Seniors Fall Below Poverty Level, the Safety Net Is Shrinking
Benefit cuts may be in store for low-income seniors. Medicare and Medicaid Designated High Risk
The General Accounting Office (GAO) recently updated its list of government programs at high risk of waste, fraud and abuse. Hospital Overcharges May Cost You
If your Medicare supplemental health insurance requires that you pay a portion of your expenses, any overcharges from a hospital stay will cost you. Legislative Update: Medicare Fraud is Picking Our Pockets
TSCL has heard from scores of seniors whose benefits are losing the race with health care costs. Record Medicare Fraud Settlement Announced
HCA Inc., the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, recently reached an agreement to settle claims in the government’s longest-running Medicare fraud investigation. Notch Victims Hurt Most by Medicaid Cuts (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (March 6, 2003)--"Notch Babies" may be among those hit hardest by state Medicaid cuts, warns a national seniors' organization. Legislative Update Week of February 24, 2003
Senate Finance Committee Explores Health Care Proposals Medicare’s Inspector General Under Investigation
Efforts to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare have taken a highly unusual turn. Marci's Mailbox: My Husband is Homebound but the Home Health Agency Says He is Not. Who’s Right?
My husband is homebound, but he can leave the house to take a short walk around the block or go to church if I help him. Marci's Mailbox: What is the Difference Between Home Health Care and Hospice Care?
“Dear Marci” Free Online Newsletter About Medicare
The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) has a free weekly electronic newsletter “Dear Marci” designed to help you understand your health care benefits and options. Final Rule Issued for Medicare Drug Discount Cards
The Bush Administration is once again trying to offer prescription drug discount cards endorsed by Medicare. COLA 1.4%; Medicare Premium Jumps 8.7%
Seniors will receive a meager 1.4% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in January while Medicare premiums are increasing a hefty 8.7%. CBO Forecasts Lower Social Security COLAs, Higher Medicare Costs
The government will spend less on Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) in 2003 and 2004. Deck Stacked to Help Seniors Maximize Medicare Benefits
The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) has designed a unique set of playing cards that will help you navigate the Medicare maze to obtain the health care you need. Where to Find Help: Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator connects older people and their families to valuable information on services and resources for senior citizens anywhere in the country. Information On Other Medicare + Choice Plans and Health Care Options
Current information about other Medicare + Choice plans available in your local area is accessible via phone or on the web site. You May Be Able To Retain Their Doctors
If you choose to return to Original Medicare you will probably be able to continue with many of the doctors you saw in their Medicare + Choice Organization. Supplemental Coverage For Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled In An Employer or Union-Sponsored Plan
Consult with your employer, union or benefits administrator before making plan changes.
Medigap Policies
When your managed care plan leaves Medicare, you are guaranteed by law the right to buy Medigap policies designated as Plans A, B, C, or F. Returning To Original Medicare
If you are returning to Original Medicare you may consider buying Medicare supplement insurance (a Medigap plan) before disenrolling from your Medicare + Choice plan. You May Have Other Medicare + Choice Options
Other Medicare managed care plans and private fee-for-service plans that operate in the same area as your non-renewing plan are required to be open to accept new enrollments during a Special Election Period. Your Managed Care Plan’s Obligation to You
After Medicare + Choice Organizations notify CMS of their intention to withdraw for the coming year, certain obligations to enrollees remain. Important Information For Persons Whose HMO is Discontinuing Service for 2003
In 2002, almost 200,000 seniors learned they must find another health plan when their Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) discontinues service on December 31. Managed Care Plans Continue to Quit Medicare
Nearly 200,000 seniors will have to find another health plan because their Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is discontinuing service. U.S. District Court Rules Health and Human Services Secretary Violated Law
A federal court has ruled that Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson violated federal law when he decided to omit information from a nationwide mailing in 2001 to Medicare beneficiaries. Legislative Update: Deficits Put New Pressures on Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds
The return of budget deficits has growing numbers of you worried. New Medicare Policy Likely to Hide Improper Payments
While the government points the finger at crooked corporate accounting, it should take a closer look at its own books. Fewer Medigap Options; Prices Vary Widely
Supplemental health insurance that offers prescription drug coverage is rapidly disappearing for millions of seniors this fall. Government Attempts to Measure Waste, Fraud and Abuse
From 1996 through 2001, an estimated $93.6 billion in claims were improperly paid.
Washington Weekly Legislative Update for Week Ending October 4, 2002
Most of the action concerns a few choice items on what had been an ambitious list of health matters and the need for appropriations to keep the government running. Congressional Corner By Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-FL): Helping America’s Seniors
The House took a major step forward in the fight to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare when it passed H.R. 4954, the ?Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002,? in June. Questionable Corporate Accounting No Rival to Uncle Sam
Despite recent Congressional outrage over corporate accounting scandals, no private company could begin to rival the bookkeeping gimmicks of Uncle Sam. How Much Does It Cost to Die?
More Than $50,000 for the Average Senior, According to NCPA. Medicare Drug Benefit Could Leave Out Large Numbers of Beneficiaries Under Limited Federal Budget
A workable Medicare drug plan is likely to be more expensive than what Congress or the While House has proposed. Seniors Face Increased Difficulty Finding Doctors
Seniors are experiencing increased difficulty finding a doctor who accepts new Medicare patients according to the Medicare Rights Center (MRC). Ask The Advisor: Citizens For Better Medicare?
You may know of this site (or maybe not), "Citizens For Better Medicare." Sounded real good and I joined...I learned that most of their funding comes from the major pharmaceutical research companies. Editor’s Top Pick For Medicare Consumer Information
A little knowledge about Medicare and other programs can go a long way in helping you cope with the high cost of health care. Social Security Administration Misinforms Over a Million Low-Income and Older New Yorkers about Right to Assistance for Medicare Premiums
The Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have sent letters containing outdated information on savings program's asset qualifications... Social Security & Medicare Q&A: Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies
Are diabetics on Medicare eligible to get their supplies free of cost? Health Plan Shopping
Need to find a new health plan? Find answers to your HMO and Medicare questions and much more. Medicare Policy Likely to Mask Improper Payments (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (August 26, 2002)--A leading senior's advocacy group charges that a new Medicare policy will likely mask what Medicare wastes on improper payments. Doctors, Hospitals Likely to Avoid Cuts
Under pressure from health care lobbyists, the House recently decided to increase Medicare payments to providers. Legislative Update: What Kind of Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit?
The House recently passed legislation that would provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit. Washington Weekly Legislative Update for Week Ending July 26, 2002
Efforts to establish a prescription drug benefit under Medicare appeared to have faltered...; TSCL advocates have been pursuing modest increases in programs which benefit seniors... Washington Weekly Legislative Update for Week Ending June 28, 2002
House passes prescription drug legislation. Prescription Drug Plans Moving Through Congress
An election-year battle over prescription drugs is heating up on Capitol Hill. Washington Weekly Legislative Update For Week Ending May 31, 2002
News from Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) and Health Committee Chairman Nancy Johnson (R-CT) of the House Ways and Means Committee this week is that there has been an agreement formed with the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals regarding Medicare provider payments. Washington Weekly Legislative Update: Week Ending May 24, 2002
Memorial Day District Work Period May 27 - May 31, 2002; HHS Teams Up with Long-Term Care Ombudsmen to Assist Consumers; House Democrats Try Again for Privatization Debate
Are You Eligible for a Medicare Savings Program?
Do you have trouble paying monthly health care costs? Medicare has several special programs that may help you save... Doctors Refuse New Medicare Patients
Finding a doctor who accepts Medicare is getting more difficult. Government Changes Rules On Alzheimer's Coverage
Alzheimer's patients may now have a better chance of receiving Medicare coverage. Washington Weekly Legislative Update May 10, 2002
In the spirit of Older American’s Month and to celebrate Mother’s Day, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson urged this week families to take a walk with their mothers and grandmothers on Mother’s Day. Being active is one of the best ways to stay fit and live longer lives while preventing certain diseases and disabilities. Medicare Waste: $12 Billion
Medicare improperly paid about $12.1 billion in fee-for-service claims for fiscal year 2001. What's Your State's Latest Tobacco Payment?
Forty-six states, the District of Columbia and five US territories hauled in $5.2 billion in April 15th tobacco settlement payments, according to the National Association of State Attorneys General. Washington Weekly Legislative Update April 5, 2002
On Saturday April 6, a representative of TSCL will be speaking on at the 2002 Culpeper TRIAD Conference for Senior Citizens in Culpeper Virginia. This is the speech that will be given. Weekly Legislative Update March 29, 2002
New Study Shows that Prescription Drug Prices Rose; Proposal Introduced to Allow Feeding Assistance for Nursing Home Residents; Report on Medicare and Social Security Released Can Drug Discount Cards Save You Money?
How much does it cost to fill your prescriptions? It may be less than you think if you're willing to shop around. Proposal for Medicare Drug Discount Card Modified
The Bush Administration recently made a second proposal for a MedicareRx discount card. New Rule May Lock You in to Health Plan
A new rule makes it more difficult to change health plans this year. Ask the Advisor: Congressional Health Care Benefits, the Rolls Royce of Health Plans?
Why not scrap Medicare in favor of something better? Social Security and Medicare Q&A: Where Can I Find Information About Supplemental Insurance?
Q: Are there policies to help pay for prescription drugs? Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Uncertain
The lack of a Medicare prescription drug benefit is a major election-year issue. Medicare Expands Benefits
Recently Medicare began coverage for several new preventive services including nutrition therapy. Long-Term Care Premiums Vary Widely; Policies Too Complex - Confusion Stunts Potential Market Development for Insurance Industry
Consumers seeking to buy long-term care insurance are faced with inexplicably large variations in premiums and a multitude of complexities regarding when and how payments are made... Prescription Drug Costs Boost Medigap Premiums Dramatically
The soaring cost of prescription drugs dramatically boosted premiums for Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies from 1998 to 2000... Medicare Answers On Medicare Coverage For Ambulance Transportation, Homebound Rules For Hospice
Q: Last month I called for an ambulance to take me to the hospital. Now Medicare is refusing to pay! What do I do?
Medicare Answers On HMO Denials Of Emergency Care, Medicare Coverage Of Mental Health, How To Appeal An HMO Denial Of Care
Q: I am in a Medicare HMO and my HMO denied payment for my last emergency visit to the hospital because I didn't have a referral. Did I need one?
Medicare Answers On Medigap Insurance, Who Pays First?, Medical Necessity Defined
Q: I want to buy supplemental "Medigap" insurance to fill the gaps in Medicare. When should I buy it?
Medicare Answers On Home Modifications for Medical Needs, Coverage for Glucose Monitors, Dual Eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid
Q: My arthritis makes it difficult for me to walk up and down stairs. Will Medicare pay to modify my home so that it suits my medical needs?
Medicare Answers On Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Pap Tests, When You May Have to Pay Instead of Medicare
Q: What is the difference between "participating" and "certified" suppliers of durable medical equipment (DME)...? Medicare Answers On Flu Shots, When Your HMO Denies Coverage, Home Health Care
Q: During this winter season, my mother got the flu. Does Medicare cover flu shots?
Use Health Care Costs to Shrink Your Tax Bill
Good records of all your deductible health care costs can help you shrink your tax bill. Washington Weekly Legislative Update March 1, 2002
As Administration officials and Congressional Members work on budget issues, the issues of Medicare, a prescription drug benefit, and Social Security have resurfaced. Protecting Your Earned Benefits in 2002
September 11th changed the priorities for Congress and the President, but the concerns and needs of TSCL members remain the same. In response, TSCL continues to pursue a vigorous Legislative Agenda in 2002. Washington Weekly Legislative Update February 22, 2002
Problems with HHS Web Site and Nursing Home Data; Supreme Court Rules on Medicaid Benefits for Nursing Home Residents; Problems with HHS Web Site and Nursing Home Data Medicare Coverage For Chiropractic Care and Deductible Periods
How does Medicare work with chiropractic care? Washington Weekly Legislative Update February 15, 2002
Committee on Health Holds Hearing on Medicare Payment Policies; TSCL Endorses S. 1606, 'Equal Access to Care Act of 2001' Washington Weekly Legislative Update February 8, 2002
Bush's Prescription Drug Plan May be DOA in Congress; Senate Wants Broader Coverage; Lawmakers Question Estimates of Slow Growth in Medicare in Administration's Budget; Better Use of Generics Could Reduce Cost of Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage; Administration to provide $128 Million In Grants To Help Family Caregivers; Senate Passes Two Bills Regarding Health Care
Washington Weekly Legislative Update: February 1, 2002
H.R. 97 Gets Two New Cosponsors! Medicare HMOs Cutting Prescription Drug Coverage; Administration Reveals More Details of Planned Funding for Medicare Reform Washington Weekly Legislative Update January 25, 2002
Congress Races to Propose New Prescription Drug Coverage Bills; President Bush Pledges $190 Billion in Budget to Reform Medicare and Add Prescription Drug Benefit – “Too Little – Too Late?”; New Medicare Benefit Announced to Prevent Glaucoma MedicareRx Discount Card Sent Back To Drawing Board
Seniors may see some prescription drug discounts in 2002. Whether they save any money is still in question. Washington Weekly Legislative Update January 18, 2002
Pfizer Offers Low-Income Seniors Drug Discounts; Kaiser Poll Finds Popular Support for Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit; Forums on Older Americans Act Still Shopping for New Health Plan?
Opportunity For Medicare HMO Beneficiaries January 11, 2002 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
National Health Care Spending Increases 6.9% in 2000 Medicare Premium Amounts for 2002
No, that's not a mistake in the Medicare premium deduction to your Social Security benefits. December 28, 2001 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
HHS Forms Advisory Committee on Medicare Regulatory Reform December 21, 2001 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
Medicare Delays Hospital Outpatient Rate Change; Administration Moves Ahead with Medicare Discount Prescription Drug Card; New Prescription Express Service to Mexico; December 14, 2001 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
President's Commission on Social Security Issues Final report; House Leaders Urge Senate to Pass Medicare Regulatory Relief Bill TREA Senior Citizens League 2001 Legislative Year-end Review
Here is a brief summary of TSCL's legislative achievements this past year. Medicare Prescription Discount Cards Offer Little Relief (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (December 11, 2001) - Seniors may not see much relief from higher drug costs in 2002. December 7, 2001 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
House Eases Regulatory Burdens on Medicare Providers; December Declared Medicare+Choice Special Enrollment Period; Senate Passes Railroad Retirement Bill DECEMBER MEDICARE+CHOICE SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD
December 4, 2001: If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan, you have an additional month to make a choice about how you wish to receive your health care coverage in 2002. The Medicare Toll-free Telephone Line
Do you have a question about your Medicare benefits? Improper Payments May Be Costing You
Medicare Part B premiums are increasing to $54 per month for 2002. Medicare expenditures increased about 10% for the government fiscal year that ended September 30, 2001 HMOs Drop More Medicare Enrollees
About 536,000 Medicare enrollees are looking for a new health plan. Congress Puts Off Action on Prescription Drug Benefit
Congress has postponed action on adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare until 2002. Important Cost Information Missing From Medicare Materials
October 29, 2001: About 536,000 Medicare HMO members are losing their health plans December 31st. November 9, 2001 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
Medicare Payment Rates to Physicians to Be Cut 5.4% in 2002 What To Do If Your HMO Is Dropping You
By year-end, more seniors on Medicare will be dropped from their HMOs, on top of the 2.2 million that have already been dropped since 1998. Medicare Resources To Help You Find Better Health Care
Do you understand your coverage options or costs associated with Medicare, Medigap, or Medicare+Choice? Important Cost Information Missing From Medicare Materials
October 29, 2001 -- About 536,000 Medicare HMO members are losing their health plans December 31st. November 2, 2001 Washington Weekly Legislative Update
TSCL Asked to Participated in Assisted Living Workgroup Hospital Outpatient Overcharges
Q: I don't understand your article Lower Hospital Outpatient Charges Possible
Medicare recipients may see some relief from high hospital outpatient co-insurance charges, but more inpatient hospital bills. What To Do When Your HMO Quits: Know the Rules When Shopping For Health Plans
Choosing a new health plan this fall will be tough. Trust Funds Already Spent
Q: In a current article you state: Medicare Covers Custom Shoes For Diabetics
It may be Medicare's best-kept secret. Trust Fund Raid Imminent
Raids on the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds appear imminent. Rx for Prescription Drug Costs?
A new Medicare drug discount program has gotten off to a predictable start. It's mired down in court. Ask the Advisor: Hospital Outpatient Clinic Overcharges
Hospital outpatient services should be billed the same as doctor services. Legislative Update: Will Seniors Pay the Price?
Seniors may soon pay the price of a multi-billion-dollar tax cut. Medicare Discount Drug Card No Substitute For Coverage (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (August 13, 2001) - Seniors without prescription drug insurance may see no relief from high drug prices any time soon. Social Security & Medicare Speakers Forum Launched (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (July 30, 2001) - Seniors wary of government plans to reform Social Security and Medicare have a new weapon for protecting their earned benefits, the TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) Speakers Forum. Medigap Prices Vary Dramatically Despite Standard Plans
Nearly a decade after Congress standardized the benefits sold under Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policies, annual premiums continue to vary dramatically for individuals purchasing identical plans in the same location, according to Weiss Ratings, Inc., the only provider of customized consumer shopping guides for Medigap insurance policies. Expanded Medicare Coverage For Liver Transplants For Liver Malignancy
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) is expanding Medicare coverage of liver transplants to include certain patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Health and Human Services (HHS) Awards $9.3 Million For Senior Medicare Patrol Projects
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the award of $9.3 million to programs that train retired professionals to help older Americans become better health care consumers and help identify and prevent billing errors and potential fraud. First Steps Taken In Reforming Medicare And Medicaid Agency
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the first wave of efforts to reform and strengthen the services and information available to nearly 70 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and the health care providers who serve them. States Consider Suing Drug Companies
Several states may take pharmaceutical companies to court. Medicare Drug Efforts Stall
Efforts to pass a Medicare prescription drug plan may be in peril. Saves 'Ton of Money' With MatureRx
Russel Watson, a regular contributing 'senior' editor to this newsletter, recently called to report that he's saving 'a ton of money' with TSCL's MatureRx(r) discount prescription drug program. TSCL S.S. & Medicare Advisor - Annual Senior Survey
Medicare Questions The Social Security & Medicare Advisor's 2001 Senior Survey
In the February issue of The Social Security & Medicare Advisor, TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) surveyed readers on a variety of issues ranging from adding prescription drug coverage to Medicare, to Social Security reform, to what your priorities are for the federal budget surplus. More HMOs Quitting Medicare
An estimated 700,000 more Medicare participants will lose their Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) benefits by the end of 2001 according to early managed care industry estimates. Medicare HMO Rates Rising Faster Than Other Plans
Brace yourself for more steep increases in Medigap and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) premiums. Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: I have a history of Osteoporosis and have had bone density tests many times. Now I am told that if I want a bone density test I have to sign a paper acknowledging that Medicare may not pay for it. Is this correct? Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q. Your answer about doctors who accept assignment, in the Medicare question of the March 2001 issue of this newsletter was confusing to me. When you wrote, `...115% more than the Medicare approved amount` I think you should have said `115% of the Medicare approved amount.` If, as in the example, Medicare approved $95.00 then 115% more would be $95.00 plus $109.25 or a total of $204.25; whereas 115% of $95.00 is 1.15 times $95.00 or $109.25 as the example indicates. Perhaps this is nit-picky but if one is accustomed to reading analytically then the presentation must be correct. Save on your next Prescription!
If you don`t already have prescription drug coverage, the League now offers supporters and their dependents the MatureRx(r) Prescription Drug Plan. Prescription Drug Update
Quick action on a Medicare prescription drug benefit is in doubt. Medicare Lockbox Rejected
The Senate recently rejected two Medicare lock-box proposals. Legislative Update: Sorting Through the Maze of Medicare Prescription Drug Proposals
In the April issue of The Social Security and Medicare Advisor, we provided details of President Bush`s plan for a Medicare prescription drug benefit. Health Care Cost Estimates Rise
Two government agencies recently revised their Health Care spending estimates upwards. Ask the Advisor: What is a Medicare Managed Care Disenrollment Form?
I'm writing to get some information about a Medicare Managed Care Disenrollment form. Medicare Beneficiaries and Internet Pharmacies
Use caution when ordering drugs through the Internet. Nursing Home Checklist
Checklists can help you evaluate the nursing homes that you call or visit. Tips on Shopping for Medigap Plans
Shop carefully before you buy. Q&A: Nursing Homes
Answers to frequently asked questions about nursing homes. Diabetes Education Program Launched
Info on Diabetes-related treatment and Medicare benefits available. Lymphedema Coverage Improvement
Medicare will expedite coverage of pneumatic compression pumps. Medicare Ups Payment Rate
Medicare payment rates will increase 2.55% for acute care hospitals. Encouraging Healthy Behavior
National Campaign to Screen for Colorectal Cancer. Strengthening And Improving Medicare
President Bush has promised a prescription drug option for all beneficiaries. Read the Speech on Notch Reform Given by League Representative to Nevada Seniors Coalition
On May 11th, 2001, League Representative Mike Plumer spoke on the latest news on Social Security Notch Reform and other legislative topics of interest to seniors at the monthly meeting of the Nevada Seniors Coalition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Help to Pay Health Care Costs
Medicaid has programs that pay some or all of Medicare`s premiums and may also pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for certain people who are entitled to Medicare and have a low income. Managed Care Plan Offered To Medicare Beneficiaries
The Health Care Financing Administration approved a request by United Health Insurance Co. to offer managed care coverage to Medicare beneficiaries in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. Medigap Consumers Face Erratic Price Increases
Consumers who buy Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) have faced a pattern of erratic and often unpredictable increases in premiums, according to an analysis by Weiss Ratings, Inc., the only source of comprehensive Medigap pricing data and independent insurance company ratings. Medicare Covers Intestinal Transplants
Medicare covers intestinal transplants for beneficiaries with irreversible intestinal failure. Special Alert for Seniors near Las Vegas, Nevada
League Representative to Speak on Notch Reform and other issues on May 11th. Senior Citizens League Applauds Passage of Lock-Box Act (Press Release)
March 8, 2001, Alexandria, VA-`The TREA Senior Citizens League applauds the passage of H.R. 2, the Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act of 2001,` said George Smith, chairman of The TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). Large Tax Cut Threatens Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (April 17, 2001) -Seniors may not receive relief from the high costs of prescription drugs any time soon. Federal Budget Tax Cut Update
The final tax cut decision is still to come and your voice needs to be heard. Social Security and Medicare Questions & Answers
Q: When I retired from the Federal Government in 1993 I elected to keep my hospitalization insurance. I was also eligible for Social Security. Due to a misquote by the Social Security employee, I was told there would be a $68.00 deduction from my Social Security check for Medicare Parts A and B. I could not afford the $68 at that time. The Social Security person said I could enroll at a later date. She did not tell me that I would have to pay a penalty for the rest of my life, plus the Part A and B premiums. By the time I inquired again, my premium would have been about $97.40 a month with the penalty, and that would increase like other Medicare premiums over time. I have some hospitalization insurance but it`s not enough to offset the charges. I don`t want to give up my home if I am hospitalized. Is there anything I can do? Medicare Drug Plan Gains Support
Proposals to add prescription drug benefits for all Medicare recipients are gaining support in Congress although difficult negotiations lay ahead. Can We Cut Taxes and Still Pay for a Prescription Drug Benefit?
Many members of Congress and President Bush insist that we can afford to cut taxes without tapping the surpluses in Social Security and Medicare. Federal Court Says Some Vets Owed Lifetime Medical Care
A federal appeals court has ruled that the government owes free medical care for life to certain veterans of World War II and the Korean War because recruiters promised them such care if they served a minimum of 20 years. Companies Boost Profits By Squeezing Retiree Benefits
To help pay medical bills left behind when her husband died of cancer, June Y., age 82 of Oakdale, Minnesota, was forced to use a portion of his $10,000 life insurance. Medicare To Cover Angioplasty Of The Carotid Artery
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) announced that Medicare will cover angioplasty of the carotid artery with stent insertion, a new treatment option for the prevention of stroke. The Income Tax Cut and Seniors
Should TSCL oppose or support the President`s tax cut? Reducing Medicare Waste Could Make Down Payment on Prescription Drug Benefit (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (March 27, 2001) -`Reducing the rate of waste, fraud and improper payments in Medicare could make a substantial down payment toward adding a prescription drug benefit or improving the quality of care,` says George Smith, chairman of TREA Senior Citzens League (TSCL). HCFA Targets The Number Two Cancer Killer
A national campaign to screen Medicare beneficiaries for colorectal cancer -- one of the nation`s most preventable cancers and yet, sadly, the number two cancer killer -- was launched today (March 14, 2001) by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the federal agency that administers Medicare, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Congress Must Move Forward On Prescription Drug Plans
Adding prescription drug benefits to Medicare is a high priority for both President Bush and Congress-but whether Medicare recipients will see relief from high drug costs any time soon remains a big question. Experimental Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Created
Adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare is under study by the federal government. Medicare Reform and Prescription Drugs
Chairman Johnson and members of the Subcommittee, we thank you for holding this series of hearings to discuss Medicare reform and a prescription drug benefit. Study Shows Differences Widen Between Medicare Beneficiaries With and Without Drug Coverage
Medicare beneficiaries who had prescription drug coverage in 1998 filled more prescriptions and paid considerably more for them than in 1997, according to a study by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which administers the Medicare program. Seniors Group Urges Congress to Enact an Equitable Prescription Drug Benefit (Press Release)
TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) favors the enactment of a Medicare prescription drug benefit that is equitable to all our nation`s seniors. Social Security and Medicare Question
Q: My Medicare HMO stopped service recently. Before my new Medigap policy became effective, an emergency forced me to go to a different doctor. I was asked to pay the office fees up-front and told to submit the bill to Medicare for reimbursement. The amount charged by the doctor was $250 but Medicare only reimbursed me for $76, because the doctor did not `accept assignment.` Doesn`t Medicare pay 80% after the $100 deductible? Shouldn`t I get reimbursed $120 (80% of the $150 balance)? Medicare HMO Withdrawals Put Managed Care Savings In Doubt
Termination by Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) of contracts with Medicare has cast into doubt the savings that can be achieved through managed care. HCFA To Offer Extra Payments For Care of Congestive Heart Failure Medicare+Choice Organizations Will Benefit in 2002
The Health Care Financing Administration announced guidelines today for Medicare+Choice organizations to receive extra risk adjustment payment for outpatient care of enrollees with congestive heart failure (CHF) beginning in 2002. HCFA Promotes Eye Exams For People With Diabetes
The Health Care Financing Administration, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the American Optometric Association (AOA) have launched a cooperative effort to increase the dilated eye exam rate among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. Health Care Insurance Premiums Rise
10% to 30% Higher Across Country Social Security & Medicare Questions: Can I get financial assistance to replace my discontinued HMO?
Q: My Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is discontinuing service and there are no other HMOs in my area...premiums were very high even for the most basic of plans...What can I do? Today`s Medicare Has More To Offer You.
Now! Expanded Coverage for Diabetes Medicare Coverage Routine Costs of Beneficiaries in Clinical Trial
The Health Care Financing Administration has issued a final national coverage decision to implement President Clinton`s order for Medicare to cover the routine health care costs of beneficiaries in clinical trials. Assuring Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents
The Clinton Administration has made ensuring the health and safety of nursing home residents a top priority. Medicare Coverage for Annual Mammograms
Since January 1998, Medicare coverage has helped pay for annual mammograms for all Medicare beneficiaries age 40 and over. HHS Announces Medicare Premium and Deductible Rates for 2001
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the 2001 rates for the Medicare Part A deductible and Part B monthly premium amounts paid by beneficiaries. Leading Senior Citizens Group Says Medicare Fraud Costs Beneficiaries More Than $4 Billion (Press Release)
Waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare not only threatens the financial solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund, it may also cost beneficiaries more than $4 billion a year in extra out-of-pocket costs. TSCL Looks for Truth in Government Figures for Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA - The Legislative Team of the TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL), has found several large discrepancies in the amounts of surplus or deficit assets for the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund as reported by three separate government reports. Medicare Budget Would Cause Seniors And Family Caregivers To Bear Heavier Financial Burdens (Press Release)
An insufficient Medicare budget would cause increasing out-of-pocket financial costs for seniors and caregivers while spending cutbacks are generating a larger-than-expected surplus in the Medicare Trust Fund. Medicare, Surplus Or Deficit? Seniors Demands Accurate Bottom Line (Press Release)
Recent testimony by U.S. Comptroller General before a House subcommittee indicates that the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund is not in as good of financial shape as earlier government projections would indicate. Clinton`s Prescription Drug Plan Offers Best Option For American Seniors (Press Release)
President Clinton`s plan for adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, outlined in his State-of-the-Union address, `offers the best option for American seniors who are experiencing difficulties in paying for their prescription drugs,` TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) announced today. Government Policy Ensures Drug Companies Profit At Seniors` Expense (Press Release)
An on-going policy of favorable treatment for big drug companies by the federal government ensures the industry of healthy profits while sky-rocketing drug costs are causing hardship for increasing numbers of American seniors. Government Policies Favor Overpriced Prescription Drugs At Expense Of Senior Health (Press Release)
Unless federal government policies that favor overpriced prescription drugs with little competition are changed, Medicare could continue to face severe financing problems even if the system is overhauled under proposed reform measures. Seniors Struggle To Pay For Prescription Drugs While Surplus Grows In Medicare Trust Fund
While seniors make trips to Canada or Mexico looking for more affordable prescription drugs or skip needed medications altogether, the surplus in the Medicare Trust Fund is growing. New Survey Shows Seniors Favor Measures To Control Prescription Drug Prices (Press Release)
An overwhelming majority of seniors favor measures that would control prescription drug prices, in addition to adding prescription drug coverage to Medicare, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). Medicare Recipients May Not Be Able To Rely On Private Prescription Drug Coverage (Press Release)
Uninsured Medicare recipients may continue having problems affording the drugs they need for good health under new prescription drug legislation recently passed by the House. H.R. 4680: A Blueprint for Disaster!! (Press Release)
Alexandria, Virginia - 6/23/00- After considerable study, the Legislative Team of the TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) has come to the conclusion that H.R. 4680 `The MedicareRx 2000 Act` will do more harm than good to the people that it is intended to help. Notch Babies Among Hardest Hit By Rising Prescription Drug Costs (Press Release)
Notch babies are among the seniors hardest hit by rising prescription drug costs. Prescription Drug Coverage For Medicare Beneficiaries
Mr. Chairman, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony to this committee concerning Medicare reform and the provisions of S.1895, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to preserve and improve the Medicare program. Medicare Reform
Mr. Chairman, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony to this committee concerning Medicare reform and the provisions of S.1895, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to preserve and improve the Medicare program. Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Proposals for Senior Citizens
TSCL is a non profit, issues advocacy organization representing over 1.5 million members and supporters and is dedicated to serving its members by defending and protecting their earned retirement benefits. Affordable Prescription Drugs for Senior Citizens
Mr. Chairman, The TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony to your committee concerning ways to make prescription drugs more affordable for senior citizens and to offer proposals to establish a prescription drug benefit program for senior citizens. Medicare and a Prescription Drug Benefit
Mr. Chairman, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony to your committee concerning the provisions of S.1895, a bill to amend the Social Security Act to preserve and improve the Medicare program. Seniors Willing To Pay Higher Medicare Premiums For Prescription Drug Benefit (Press Release)
Seven out of 10 Medicare recipients favor adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and some would pay up to $20 more per month to get the added coverage according to a recent survey conducted by TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). TSCL Supports Legislation Calling for Fair Health Care (Press Release)
Alexandria, Va. - Legislation sitting in the House Commerce and House Ways and Means Committees could help senior citizens attain the health care security they deserve Leading Senior Citizens Group Says (Press Release)
Members of Medicare and Medicaid Managed Care Plans Urgently Need New Protections. Shopping for a New Health Plan?
Private Fee-For-Service Plans Call for Cautious Approach Social Security & Medicare Questions: My HMO is Dropping Me. What Do I do Now?
My Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) will be dropping coverage in our area. What do I do now? Medicare Overpays For Supplies Used In Medical Equipment
Medicare would save taxpayers and patients $47 million a year if it bought a widely used asthma drug from the local Wal-Mart or Drug Emporium instead of paying the pharmaceutical industry sticker price according to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. How to Reduce Your Spending
On Durable Medical Equipment Six Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Medigap Insurance
It may come as no surprise that Medicare is estimated to cover only 50% of your health care costs. Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: I am turning 65 soon but will continue to receive my health insurance through my husband`s place of work. Is there any reason why I should sign up for Medicare Part B doctor`s insurance since it would be duplicated by my other insurance? Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: My mother requires the services of a home health care agency. We`ve been told that Medicare will cover the cost of special equipment. Could you give us more detail? Are You Getting All the Medicare Benefits You`re Entitled To?
Do you qualify for Medicare savings? Beware Of This Medicaid Trap!
My folks worked almost 50 years on a farm in Iowa and managed to save a little nest egg for their future years. Budget Cuts Hit Medicare Beneficiaries
Some of the nation`s most ill and most frail seniors are finding themselves shut out of nursing homes or experiencing difficulty getting the care they need from home health care agencies. A Prescription Drug Benefit For Medicare?
House and Senate Democrats joined with President Clinton to offer prescription drug benefits as part of Medicare recently. Readers' Mail: Medicare Covers Inhalation Therapy Drugs
Certain inhalation therapy drugs are covered under Medicare B when it is necessary that the drug be taken through a piece of durable medical equipment (DME). Congressional Corner from Representative James Barcia: Supporting 'The Medicare HMO Improvement Act of 1999'
Recently I was contacted by almost 5,000 senior citizens in Michigan`s Fifth Congressional District to ask that I co-sponsor H.R. 141, the `Medicare HMO Improvement Act of 1999,` introduced by my colleague, Congressman Sam Gejdenson. Tips From NOLO.com
How To Combat Excessive Outpatient Hospital Bills: Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: I am a 67-year-old diabetic. I have been watching ads on television about getting my supplies through the mail. The ad says the supplies are covered by Medicare, but I`ve been paying for mine, which I buy at local pharmacies. I`m confused. What does Medicare really cover? Medicare Part B Premium Remains Unchanged For 2000, But Future Increases Expected
The Medicare Part B premium stayed at the 1999 rate of $45.50 in 2000, but is expected to rise to $46.50 in 2001. What To Do When You Need Help With Health Insurance
Mrs. Thompson (not her real name), a 76-year-old Virginia woman, suffers from Alzheimers. Drugs Drive Push For Medicare Reform
Hardship for seniors caused by the increasing cost of prescription drugs has spurred President Clinton to put Congress on notice that he will aggressively push his plan to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare this year. Organized Crime Targets Medicare & Medicaid
Organized criminal groups are skimming hundreds of millions of dollars a year from Medicare and Medicaid according to a new report by the General Accounting Office (GAO). Medicare Funding Restored
The only Medicare legislation passed in the fiscal year 2000 budget was a package that returned about $16 billion previously trimmed from Medicare payments to hospitals, nursing homes, those who provide rehabilitative services, and other caregivers. Legislative Update: Real Opportunity For Prescription Drug Reform In 2000
Adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, reforming Medicare, Social Security`s solvency, annual Cost-Of-Living Adjustments to accurately reflect the true cost-of-living of older Americans, and the need to correct the Social Security Notch continue to be hotly debated in Washington. Congressional Corner from Representative Robert Wexler: Meet the Press, September 20, 1998
Last year, hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO`s) throughout the nation received disturbing news that their HMOs were pulling out of their region, placing caps on prescription drug coverage, or worse yet, dropping prescription drug coverage altogether. At 35, Medicare Program is Still a Work in Progress, Says CCH Incorporated
RIVERWOODS, Ill., Aug. 3 Medicare celebrated its 35th anniversary amid the same air of controversy that surrounded its birth in 1965, according to CCH INCORPORATED (CCH), a leading provider of health law information and services and e-learning programs. www.medicare.gov
Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare Information Now! Expanded Coverage for Diabetes
Today`s Medicare Has More To Offer You. Medicare Basics
Original Medicare Amounts for 2000 Apply Online for a Replacement Medicare Card
Right here, online, you can apply for a replacement Medicare card. Your Questions
Q: Recently my disabled mother needed ambulance service, but Medicare denied the claim. What went wrong? Investigative Report: Is Government Policy Favoring Big Drug Companies At The Expense Of Seniors’ Health?
Are government policies allowing drug companies to rake in enormous profits at the expense of Medicare recipients? Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: Does Medicare cover eye exams for new glasses or after cataract surgery? More HMOs Withdraw From Medicare
An estimated 934,000 Medicare recipients will need to find a new health care plan by the beginning of next year. Medicare Overcharged For Drugs
But House GOP Moves to Protect Drug Manufacturers Legislative Update: House Prescription Bill Raises Questions
Senate Proposes Compromise With Trade-offs Health-Care Providers May Get Increase
In June, 130 residents of Jefferson Park Center, a nursing home in Charlottesville, Virginia, learned they had less than 90 days to move. Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: My mother was diagnosed as terminally ill, and hospice care started. Despite the doctor’s prognosis, my mother rallied. I took my mother out of hospice care and started providing home care myself, for 4 months until she was admitted to a nursing home. During this time my mother’s Medicare Summary Notice indicated that the hospice care agency continued to bill Medicare, both while she was in my care and even after she entered the nursing home. What should I do? Social Security & Medicare Questions
Q: My mother was diagnosed as terminally ill, and hospice care started. Despite the doctor’s prognosis, my mother rallied. I took my mother out of hospice care and started providing home care myself, for 4 months until she was admitted to a nursing home. During this time my mother’s Medicare Summary Notice indicated that the hospice care agency continued to bill Medicare, both while she was in my care and even after she entered the nursing home. What should I do? Crackdown On Medicare Fraud Nets Record Settlement
A crackdown on waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare is netting record settlements and improving the bottom line of the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. CBO Increases Estimate of Medicare Part A Trust Fund Surplus By $175 Billion
The new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) could make it easier for Congress to take action on adding prescription drug coverage to Medicare. Prescription Drug Medicare Reform Plan Debated
Forming the basis of the prescription drug debate in Congress is a plan introduced by Senators John Breaux (D-LA) and Bill Frist (R-TN), “The Medicare Preservation and Improvement Act of 1999.” Legislative Update: The Medicare Budget Sham
Recently Congress announced that they would set aside $40 billion over the next five years to create a prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. Congressional Corner from Representative Bernie Sanders: Major Increase In Campaign Contributions and Lobbying Expenditures By Drug Companies
The pharmaceutical industry is using every means possible to stop Congress from moving forward on real prescription drug reform. Medicare Fraud At $13.5 Billion
Millions Paid For People Who Were Dead Medicare Hospital Caps Offer Little Protection
A new system that will slowly reduce what Medicare recipients must pay out-of-pocket for their hospital care offers little protection from overcharges. TSCL Senior Survey?
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Tough Questions To Ask When The Campaign Comes To Town
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits-Who Should Be Covered? Tough Questions To Ask When The Campaign Comes To Town
How Should Prescription Drug Coverage Be Structured? Legislative Update - Details Thin On Prescription Drug Plans
Incumbents are returned to office for passing laws the voters want, not for gridlock. Medicare
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