News

  • Colas Go Flat Seniors May Get 1 7 Cola In 2014

    Is the annual amount of coverage capped? Dental plans often cover only a certain amount of dental services, up to a cap such as 0 to ,500 per year. The cost of preventive services such as cleanings and X-rays is generally not subtracted from the maximum, but it's important that you find out. If you think you will be needing pricey services soon, then look for the plan that offers the highest amount of coverage at the lowest cost. .The CMS rule change would also make it more difficult to qualify for nursing home and even home health care coverage after leaving the hospital. To qualify for nursing home coverage, one must spend three days as an inpatient. Outpatient stays do not qualify for Medicare coverage of nursing home stays. Without a qualified hospital inpatient stay, patients may even have trouble finding home health care agencies that would serve them due to Medicare's lower Part B reimbursement rates. .Social Security and Medicare benefits are paid for through payroll tax deductions from workers and their employers. Even after starting to receive benefits, close to 56 percent of retirees continue to pay into the programs through income taxes on a portion of their Social Security benefits. Medicare beneficiaries also pay premiums for Part B doctors and hospital outpatient insurance. Both programs are relied upon by tens of millions of older Americans for income and healthcare benefits. "According to the most recent surveys by The Senior Citizens League the public wants their lawmakers to protect these programs, but not by cutting benefits." Johnson notes. … Continued

  • Outrageous Totalization Agreement With Mexico Pending

    The Senior Citizens League encourages its supporters to attend these events and to ask important questions of their elected officials, like the following three… .Individuals with incomes below ,000, and whose Part B premiums are automatically deducted from their Social Security benefits, are protected from a reduction in their Social Security benefits when Part B premiums increase more than their Social Security benefits. The provision was triggered twice in recent years, in 2016 when there was no COLA, and in 2017 when the COLA was just 0.3%. .On Wednesday the Pentagon sent a "rightsizing plan" to Congress which, if fully agreed to by Congress, would result in approximately 200,000 military family members and retirees losing their ability to get health care at military hospitals and clinics. … Continued

The Senior Citizens League can be reached via e-mail at comments@ or you can reach us by telephone at 800-333-TSCL (8725). Our mission is to promote and assist members and supporters, to educate and alert senior citizens about their rights and freedoms as U.S. Citizens, and to protect and defend the benefits senior citizens have earned and paid for. The Senior Citizens League consists of vocally active senior citizens concerned about the protection of their Social Security, Medicare, and veteran or military retiree benefits. .This week, lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill following a two-week spring recess, and one member of The Senior Citizens League's (TSCL's) Board of Trustees visited Capitol Hill to advocate for legislation that would improve the Social Security and Medicare programs. In addition, two key bills gained support in the House and Senate. .Sen. Sanders organized a petition drive that has garnered 400,000 signatures so far, and he is hopeful that his campaign will help prevent the adoption of benefit cuts like the "chained" Consumer Price Index (CPI). While some conferees seem to agree with Sen. Sanders, others feel that changes like increased Medicare means testing should be considered as part of a package to replace the automatic sequester cuts, which are scheduled take effect on January 15th. .Last week Rep. Tim Walburg (R- Mich.) introduced a bill, H.R.2266, that would amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for a minimum annual cost-of-living increase for Social Security benefits. ."The vast majority of prescription drugs [in the U.S.] are for generic, and there, the U.S. does pretty well," says Andrew Mulcahy, PhD, a senior policy researcher at RAND and the lead author of the report. "But for brand-name drugs, we pay much higher." .The Senior Citizens League's surveys in 2020 asked about support for currently debated proposals to change Social Security and Medicare benefits. The five top areas of consensus include the following: .Also last year, I introduced the Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act which was ultimately passed with unanimous support and then signed into law by President Obama. Decision-making in Washington should be based on transparency. A truly representative legislature should foster a culture of openness, which is why this law now requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer Congress expanded information on Medicare Advantage enrollment each year based on zip code, congressional district, and state. The purpose of this additional data is to provide greater information to the public, to policymakers, and to the health care community so they may have the most up-to-date information when making decisions. .He also did not provide any more money to help renters. The executive order calls only for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson to see if they can find any more funds to help. It does not promise more aid. .This program provides benefits, based on earnings and work history, to workers with disabilities who are under full retirement age. Between 1990 and 2013, enrollment increased 112.5%. Of people receiving Social Security benefits, the number of disabled individuals has grown from 3.2 to 6.7 beneficiaries per 100 covered workers, according to the Congressional Research Service.