Find out the full cost of your new drug and whether your drug plan covers it, every year. Case in point: Using the Medicare Drug Plan finder I learned that my client's new brand name prescription cost more than a month for a 30-day supply, and her drug plan did not cover it. Because she was lucky enough to be in the middle of the fall Part D Open Enrollment period, however, my client was able to save ,080 in uncovered out-of-pocket drug costs in 2011 by switching drug plans. She was able to enroll in a plan that provided better coverage and reduced her drug cost to a co-pay. Once you determine that a new prescription is your best option, check your drug plan coverage and what you will pay for it — and do this every year. If the drug is expensive, and if your drug plan doesn't cover it, or drops coverage, you may want to go back to your doctor to see whether there is a less costly prescription that you can try. You can check the coverage and full cost of the drug using the Medicare drug plan finder at www.medicare.gov. .However, it differs from the House version which means it must go back to the House to see if it will agree with the changes that were made. ., editor, and Terry Newell, President, Leadership for a Responsible Society .TSCL Urges Action on Debt Ceiling .Use the lowest price among other economically advanced countries – the so-called "favored nations rule" - to set what Medicare pays for certain drugs administered in a doctor's office, including many cancer medications. This would apply to the most expensive medications covered by Medicare's 'Part B,' which pays for outpatient care. .The U.S. has already hit the most recent debt limit on March 2nd, just one month after the government shutdown ended. The U.S. Treasury is currently using "extraordinary measures" to temporarily keep the federal government funded, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Treasury will run out of cash near the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2019) unless Congress takes action. .On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the findings of the new 2018 Social Security Trustees Report. Those on the subcommittee heard from Stephen Goss, Chief Actuary at the Social Security Administration. ."But Democrats arguing for the change are pointing to rising costs of brand-name drugs and insurance plans that increasingly require patients pay more money toward their own care, forcing them to ration insulin and other drugs. They also note that H.R. 3 includes billion for biomedical research." .The Senior Citizens League encourages its supporters to attend these events and to ask important questions of their elected officials, like the following three…