So, what should those who have received the Covid-19 vaccines do now? .Apply for pharmacy assistance programs from your drug manufacturer. Medicare maintains a list of pharmacy assistance programs by drug name. To learn if there is a program for your drug visit: http://www.medicare.gov/pharmaceutical-assistance-program/index.aspx. .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. .But bigger deficit reduction would be possible if Social Security taxes were made more equitable. Under current law, high-income earners — people with earnings higher than Social Security's taxable maximum of 7,000— pay nothing on earnings over that amount. In other words, someone earning ,117,000 pays no Social Security taxes on the one million above 7,000. Yet workers earning less than 7,000 pay Social Security taxes on every dime of their wages. The CBO estimates that simply raising the taxable maximum to 7,500 would bring in 0 billion in new Social Security revenues through 202Taxing all earnings would eliminate up to 90 percent of Social Security's funding problems. .Nearly 1.5 million teachers and other public servants see their earned Social Security benefits reduced by as much as 40 percent due to the Windfall Elimination Provision. What do you feel should be done about this? .Fight to End Surprise Billing is Losing Key Ally .The 1977 legislation was intended to correct an earlier flaw in the Social Security benefit formula. That flaw raised the initial retirement benefits for future retirees too quickly. Government economists predicted at the time that, if not corrected, the initial monthly benefits of future retirees could be greater than their monthly earnings prior to retirement - far above the levels ever anticipated (2). The flawed benefit formula would bankrupt Social Security. .Some of our members have told us that they've also joined AARP for the benefits. We're all for seniors saving money, so if you want to join AARP for the discounts, go for it. But we hope you will choose The Senior Citizens League as the group fighting for you on Capitol Hill. .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.