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  • Category Issues Medicare Part B Page 7

    In the meantime, though, as businesses re-open and we return to a new version of normal, it's important to stay vigilant. .Instead, that money has gone into the pockets of the wealthy. Now Republicans want to cut benefits for hard - working Americans. They want to harm the most vulnerable among us, including manufacturing a crisis to put disabled Americans at risk of facing a nearly 20% cut in benefits, even while they provide more tax breaks for the wealthy and for corporations. .However, in tough economic times, our seniors — many of whom live on fixed incomes — get hit the hardest. From increasing medical expense costs to the rising cost of living, our seniors are facing greater economic insecurities. This is why we must protect Social Security from cuts and work to lower medical costs for this generation and the generations to come. … Continued

  • President Will Not Propose Lowering Drug Prices In His Budget

    Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact The Senior Citizens League at any time. .The House of Representatives has outlined specific reforms that maintain the current Medicare program for those aged 55 and older with no disruption and saves Medicare for future seniors by offering those beneficiaries a premium support program. Specifically for younger workers, when they reach eligibility, Medicare will provide a payment and a list of guaranteed coverage options – including a traditional fee-for-service option from which recipients can choose a plan that best suits their needs. These future Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose a plan the same way members of Congress do. Medicare will also provide additional assistance for lower-income beneficiaries and those with greater health care needs. Our plan also stops the raid on Medicare trust fund that was going to pay for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, allowing any current Medicare savings to go directly to saving Medicare and not creating open-ended health entitlements. .Shoring up the Medicare Part A Trust Fund will be more difficult. Simply cutting payments to hospitals would not be in the best interests of patients or hospitals, because many medical centers are already faltering financially. … Continued

Susan's son Andrew requires an expensive anti-convulsive medication, Depakote Sprinkles. None of his Part D plan choices covers the brand drug — which can cost ,099 a year retail — only the generic version. But for Andrew, the generic doesn't work, and he has suffered seizures while using it. Susan learned, however, from Advisor editor Mary Johnson, that because Andrew receives Medicare Extra Help, his doctor can ask his drug plan for a coverage exception. Since starting Medicare, Andrew has received coverage for Depakote in each of his Part D plan choices. .Oxford's study, however, found that the vaccine not only prevented severe disease but appeared to cut transmission of the virus by two-thirds. The study has not been peer-reviewed yet. .Do you have a low benefit and think you may be affected by hold harmless? TSCL would like to hear from you! Contact us at . .Get unbiased counseling. NEVER, EVER drop your Medicare supplemental or switch Medicare Advantage plans based solely on the sales pitch of an insurance agent! This is especially true if the agent is trying to pitch you from a table set up in a discount store, or pharmacy window. DO NOT do business at all with anyone who calls on the phone or knocks on your door, regardless of who they say they are. There have been very widespread reports of con artists who tell seniors they are calling from Medicare or Social Security. You have no safe way of confirming who they are. Don't respond. Hang up and keep your doors locked! .The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently issued a cost estimate citing the Joint Committee on Taxation's estimates of the cost for Social Security of about 6 billion in reduced SS revenues between 2020 -2021, increased revenues from repayments of 9 billion between 2022-2023, and about billion in higher outlays which would be due to administrative and debt costs. The CBO assumes that some companies will go out of business and would be unable to repay deferred taxes — about billion in Social Security revenues. The CBO warned that uncertainties its estimate of the CARES Act are high, and that actual outcomes could vary significantly. .Lawmakers from both the House and Senate remained in their home states and districts this week to continue the month-long August recess. They are expected to return to Washington on September 5th, following the Labor Day holiday. .Last Friday the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, Inc., urged President Biden to form a bipartisan coalition in Washington to address high drug costs. .This week, Members of Congress remained in their home states and districts for the month-long August recess. .All costs cited include premiums and prescription out-of-pocket.