News

  • Legislative Update Week Ending September 7 2018

    We enthusiastically support H.R. 1811 and H.R. 1716, and we were pleased to see support grow for both bills this week. .Sources: Testimony: The Social Security Disability Insurance Program, Joyce Manchester, The Congressional Budget Office, March 14, 201"Challenges Facing The Next Commissioner Of Social Security," SSA Office of Inspector General, April 26, 2012013 Social Security Trustees Report, May 31, 2013. .Last year a premium support plan that passed in the House prompted a firestorm of opposition from seniors and critics concerned that the plan cut federal spending too much — shifting too great a portion of costs -- and would make Medicare unaffordable for beneficiaries. But premium support itself is nothing new, nor would it "end Medicare as we know it." To the contrary, seniors already know it, and like it. Medicare operates two premium support programs — Medicare Part D, and Medicare Advantage. … Continued

  • Congressional Corner Capping Drug Costs Could Negatively Impact Rural Health Care Systems

    Bottom line: Everyone in 2017 is expected to pay more for their Medicare Part B premiums. Any increase in benefits due to the COLA will be completely eaten up by the expected increase in Medicare Part B premiums. Nevertheless, for the majority of beneficiaries, the rising Part B premiums, at least, will not reduce benefits — but hold harmless protection only applies to Part B premiums. Any increase in the premiums of Medigap supplements, Part D, or Medicare Advantage plans would reduce one's Social Security income. In November, beneficiaries will be receiving notification through the mail of what they will pay for Medicare Part B in 2017. .Many of these proposals to improve Social Security benefits for women will, and should, also benefit men who took time out of their working careers to care for someone else. However, because women are more likely to outlive their husbands and take care of children, TSCL believes these proposals can particularly help women who gave so much to others, and deserve protection in return. To learn more about these and other proposals that would strengthen Social Security benefits for mothers and caretakers, visit our website at . .The total revenues in the sample could pay the Social Security benefits of 897 retirees, with an average monthly benefit of ,400, for an entire year. Or, that revenue could be used to provide a modest boost to the COLA of 448,560 retirees in the first year, by tying the annual inflation adjustment to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). … Continued

TSCL opposes the payment of Social Security and Medicare benefits that are based on illegal work, and supports legislation that would ban Social Security work credits based on unauthorized earnings from being used to determine entitlement. .Excludes medical documentation from doctors or healthcare providers convicted of fraud or excluded from participation in federal health care programs. .The Senior Citizens League supports bipartisan legislation that would require Medicare to negotiate lower prices for Medicare Part D, would allow safe importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries where the same drugs are often sold for much less, and would ban "pay for delay" deals between drug manufacturers that keep cheaper generics off the market. To learn what you can do to help fight high drug costs, visit . .A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked President Obama's immigration program that defers deportation for almost 5 million illegal immigrants. Responding to a lawsuit filed by 26 states, the judge did not rule on the legality of immigration orders, but said there was sufficient merit to warrant a suspension of the new program while the case goes forward. .Congress and President Obama are battling over the federal budget, but supporters in Congress aren& 8217;t about to forget Notch Babies. The Notch Fairness Act bills (H.R. 155) and (S.90) were introduced by Representative Mike McIntrye (NC-7) and Senator David Vitter (LA). They were among the first bills to be re-introduced in. TSCL Continues Working For Notch Reform TSCL has not given up our goal of Notch reform. In recent months we have been working with long-term Notch reform allies in Congress to ensure that Notch Babies& 8217;, needs are protected from deficit reduction plans that would affect people who are currently retired. .The additional coronavirus emergency legislation is likely to crowd out many other items that were once on the Congressional priority lists for the summer. As a result, the list of other "must pass" legislation is increasingly small, with priority being given to bills to fund the federal government and renew Pentagon programs. .Sens. Tom Carper (DE) and Tom Coburn (OK) introduced S. 1123 on June 10, 201It has since been referred to the Committee on Finance. .TSCL supports H.R. 4012 enthusiastically, and we were pleased to see two new cosponsors sign on to it this week. We will be advocating for the passage of H.R. 4012 and S. 2251 – Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (MA) companion bill – tirelessly in the coming months because we know that a 3.9 percent COLA would provide much-needed relief to our members and supporters next year. ."In the event that you have the choice to get vaccinated, I'd encourage you to take the vaccine that you're given," John Brooks, the chief medical officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Covid-19 response, said at a briefing Friday."