How TSCL is Working For You

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How TSCL is Working For You

TSCL Submits Statement on President’s Medicare and Medicaid Proposals

In February, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “Medicare and Federal Health Care Priorities.” TSCL submitted written testimony for the record. Here are excerpts of a few key points:

“TSCL conducts an annual survey of its members. The February 2002 survey found that almost 28% of our membership has trouble paying for their prescription drugs each month; 27% reported having trouble paying their health insurance premiums, deductibles and co-payments, and nearly 52% of our membership said that the creation of a Medicare outpatient prescription drug benefit would be the most beneficial action Congress could take to improve their health care management.”
“We have concerns about the possibility of a prescription drug benefit only being offered to individuals who leave the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program and sign with a private health care provider. We want all seniors to have access to an affordable prescription drug plan, without them having to give up traditional Medicare and perhaps their doctor of many years.”
Access to affordable and reliable health care coverage is important to TSCL members. TSCL believes that when private companies contract to offer services to seniors, it should not be for only a brief period of time. In the past, many insurance companies have left certain regions, leaving seniors high and dry. We want stability, including assurances that they will be able to continue to have access to their family doctor, in whatever reform is enacted.
TSCL suggests that economic forecasts on the growth of Medicaid appear optimistically low. The 9% estimate for the next 10-year time frame, given recent years of 13-14% growth, seems perhaps too low, especially as health care costs continue to increase about three times faster than senior Cost-of-Living Adjustments.
An overall cap on Medicaid expenses causes TSCL to pause as well. We don’t want to see any one of our senior citizens forced to be without service because the state is over a pre-determined limit, especially if that limit is put into place using an unrealistic forecast for growth.
Cuts in Medicaid would negatively affect seniors who were born in the years 1917-1926 especially hard, as they receive Social Security benefits lower than those of other senior who have similar work and earnings records.

To read the entire statement, visit the TSCL web site at http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101797.asp.

Representatives Ralph Hall and Walter Jones Receive MVP Award for 2002

Each year, TREA Senior Citizens League presents a Member or Members of Congress, with an “MVP Award for Legislative Action”. This year TSCL honored Representatives Ralph Hall (D-TX) and Walter Jones (R-NC).

For years Congressman Hall (D-TX) has been a leader on Notch Reform. He has repeatedly introduced legislation that would provide either a Lump-Sum benefit of $5,000 payable over four years, or an improved monthly benefit for Notch Babies. In addition to his efforts on the Notch in the 107th Congress, Representative Hall cosponsored legislation to provide a more fair and accurate Cost-of-Living Adjustment for seniors. Congressman Hall’s fourth district of Texas is home to nearly 2,500 TSCL Members.

Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) is an ardent Notch Reform supporter. He has also introduced a bill that TSCL wholeheartedly supports, “The Social Security Guarantee Act,” H.R. 812. This bill would require the Secretary of the Treasury to issue to each Social Security recipient a certificate that includes a written guarantee of a fixed monthly benefit plus a guaranteed annual cost-of-living adjustment. The bill specifies that such certificates constitute “budget authority” or an obligation of the federal government to pay, somewhat like a savings bond. Congressman Jones represents nearly 2,200 TSCL members.

Both Members are working hard to ensure that seniors receive their earned benefits. We salute their efforts, and look forward to continuing our joint efforts to promote fairness for seniors.

To learn more about how TSCL is working for you see, “Notch Fairness Press Conference” and “New Members of Congress Learn About the Notch” at http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101831.asp.

June 2003