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  • Health Care Coverage Reminder For Travelers With Medicare

    Here's how it works: If Medicare spending exceeds certain growth rates, the 15-member board must make recommendations to Congress to rein in spending. If Congress fails to respond by passing cost-cutting measures of their own, the board's recommendations would be automatically implemented. .In mid-December there were reports that the Administration expected to begin sending out President Trump's promised 0 drug discount cards to seniors by Jan. However, we have not heard any report about whether or not that has begun. We will keep you posted when there is new information about the distribution of the cards. .The audit is part of long-delayed plans to recover money that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) says it overpaid to plans that exaggerated the severity of illnesses of patients treated. The problem is one that the federal government has struggled with, unsuccessfully, for more than a decade. According to one estimate that appeared in Health Affairs, CMS will overpay Medicare Advantage plans by 0 billion over the next decade if the current "coding intensity adjustment" system remains in place. … Continued

  • Q A Medicare

    There was also a bipartisan proposal from Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that gained support in the Senate but it did not include price negotiation, and again, McConnell refused to bring the bill to the floor in an election year. .War Savings to Fund "Doc Fix" Extension? .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. … Continued

According to an article last week in StatNews, a newsletter that covers health and medical issues, the answer seems to be "whichever one is available to you first." .Lawmakers from both the House and Senate remained in their home states and districts for the last week of the month-long August recess. They are expected to return to Washington on September 5th, where they will face many important challenges including lifting the debt ceiling and passing a spending bill to continue funding the government. .As a country, we also need to encourage generations of all ages to be informed about their options for retirement saving and to take personal responsibility for their own financial planning, including understanding the extent of their senior benefits such as Medicare or Social Security or taking advantage of the fact that many employers will match what American workers choose to contribute to their retirement, which means twice the savings. Currently, for many Americans, their personal savings fall well short of what they will need to continue to fund their standards of living after retiring from the workforce full-time – and I worry that each generation is saving less. If financial planning feels overwhelming, there are many existing resources you can access to help ensure you are effectively utilizing your options. The Department of Labor has created a guide called the Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement to help with practical tips for building retirement savings. USA.gov provides an outline of your options for saving as well as a list of questions to ask yourself to ensure you're planning sufficiently for your future. You can also use a retirement calculator to find out the best age to claim your Social Security benefits. If you are experiencing a problem with your pension, profit sharing, or retirement savings plans, USA.gov points to the Pension Rights Center as a potential source of free legal assistance or advice. Knowledge is power, and it's important that Americans of all ages are informed of their options so that they can plan appropriately for their futures. .When Medicare Part B premiums spiked in 2015, Congress was not focused on the adequacy of the COLA. Instead, it was focused on the Medicare Part B funding lost when beneficiaries were protected from paying increased premiums. While the subsequent Medicare Part B premium increase for 2016 was reduced, it was still a very substantial increase of 16%, and all beneficiaries were required to repay the costs in higher Part B premiums in following years. Beneficiaries saw no growth in their net Social Security benefits in 2016, again in 2017 when the COLA was just 0.03% and, about half of all beneficiaries were once again affected in 2018 when a 2% COLA became payable. .Get routine physicals and screenings done prior to the start of Medicare's annual Part D Open Enrollment. Case in point: My client had problems with her new blood pressure medication. It was one of the most common and inexpensive generics but she suffered from extreme fatigue and depression. At my urging, she returned to her doctor and was given a new brand prescription to try and a 7-day free sample. She felt better right away. Routine physicals and screenings are generally scheduled about 12 months apart, but try to get them completed about 30 days BEFORE the annual fall Medicare Part D Open Enrollment period, so you can allow for a trial period with any new meds. When you get your new prescription, ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of side effects or possible drug interactions. Keep a list of symptoms if you don't start feeling better. .Sources: "Social Security Benefits Related to Unauthorized Work," SSA Office of the Inspector General, March 2003, A-03-03-2305"Illegal Immigrant Crackdown Looms," Nicole Gaouette, The Los Angeles Times, August 3, 200 .Source: James W. Kelley & Joseph R. Humphreys, "Congressional Intent Concerning The Notch Issue: Legislative Background of the 1977 Social Security Amendments," 1994.Source: Congressional Research Service May 24, 1999 .What you can do: Contact your Members of Congress and tell them that cutting the COLA to reduce the deficit is unacceptable. To provide income seniors can rely on over a retirement, COLAs needs to keep up with rising costs, something they don't do well enough now. .Social Security Subcommittee Examines Information Technology