News

  • Legislative Update For Week Ending May 25 2012

    It's important to compare your prescription drug costs based on the drugs you actually take under Part D and Medicare Advantage plans since that expense for most people is their most significant cost, next to premiums. You can compare Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage online at www.Medicare.gov by clicking on the link for "find drug and health plans." You can do a general search based on your zip code, and the drugs you input. .One of the uncertain Democrats is Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. His state is home to many big-name pharmaceutical companies and he voted against a measure to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices in the Senate Finance Committee in 2019. .TSCL is hopeful that President Trump will lend his support to the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, since we believe it would go a long way in reducing the costs of lifesaving medications for beneficiaries. We will continue to advocate for it on Capitol Hill, and we hope to see it signed into law before the end of the 115th Congress. For more information, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website. … Continued

  • June 2014 Fool Com

    Now we are looking for viral deliverance when drug development is one of the world's most lucrative businesses, ownership of drug patents is disputed in endless court battles, and monopoly power often lets manufacturers set any price, no matter how extraordinary. A new cancer treatment can cost a half-million dollars, and old staples like insulin have risen manifold in price to thousands of dollars annually. .The Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, has yet to make a decision as to whether to defer taxes for its employees. .However, it is possible that some doctors and hospitals may opt not to accept Medicare due to lower cost reimbursements or providers may also try to pass extra costs to consumers. … Continued

When a zero COLA was announced for 2016, the Medicare Trustees projected that the Part B premium and deductible amounts would increase by an unprecedented 52 percent between 2015 and 2016 — from 4.90 to 9.30 per month.[7] Passage of The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, however resulted in reducing the increase in Part B premiums from 9.30 per month to 1.80 per month, which was still an extremely high 16.1 percent increase. The premium included a repayment amount that was added to monthly premiums of all beneficiaries in future years to recover over time the cost of the reduced premium rate in 2016.[8] .This week, one new cosponsor – Rep. Robert Scott (VA-3) – signed on to Rep. Peter DeFazio's (OR-4) Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) Act (H.R. 1030). The cosponsor total is now up to ten. If signed into law, Rep. DeFazio's bill would base the Social Security COLA upon the spending patterns of seniors. Currently, it is based upon the way young, urban workers spend their money – a method that underestimates the spending inflation that seniors experience. A study conducted by TSCL in 2012 found that seniors have lost 34 percent of their purchasing power since 2000 – a clear sign that the current COLA is growing too slowly. .This week, congressional leaders and President Donald Trump put an end to the partial federal government shutdown by approving a short-term CR that will reopen the government until Friday, February 15th. .We will update you whenever we have additional information. .The Guaranteed 3 Percent COLA Act (H.R. 991) from Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-16) also gained one new cosponsor this week: Congressman Andre Carson (IN-7). If adopted, it would base the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on the more accurate Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E), and it would guarantee an annual benefit increase of at least 3 percent. The bill now has six cosponsors in the House. .Your Initial Enrollment Period starts three months prior to turning age 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after you turn 6Advisor editor Mary Johnson, who has helped dozens of friends and neighbors with their Medicare, highly recommends starting the Medicare enrollment process 3 months before you turn 65, in order to have your new coverage become effective in the month you turn 6Enrolling in Medicare is done online through the Social Security website at www.SocialSecurity.gov. Look for the box that says, "Enroll in Medicare". Or you can get assistance to help you with this. .He is a member of TREThe Enlisted Association (TREA), The American Legion, the National Association of Uniformed Services (NAUS), the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the United States Flag Foundation. He was a member of the committee that chartered TREA Eagle Chapter 94, Warner Robins, Georgia, in 199He also served as their first President from 1999 to 200In 2001, he moved to Las Vegas, and joined Chapter 84, where he served as their President from 2002-200He returned to Warner Robins 2006, and rejoined Chapter 9He served as their President in 2007 and 2008, 2015, and 201He is still active in chapter activities. .Hunger and food insecurity is a huge problem in America. Nearly 41 million Americans struggle to put food on the table each day, including five million seniors. Because of their lack of income, many of our seniors are often faced with the frightening decision of whether to purchase food or medicine. .The following Members of Congress, among others, will hold town halls this weekend: Sens. Jim Risch (ID), Pat Roberts (KS), Deb Fischer (NE), Tom Coburn (OK), and Charles Grassley (IA), and Reps. Mark Amodei (NV-2), Lou Barletta (PA-11), Dan Benishek (MI-1), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Tim Huelskamp (KS-1), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Derek Kilmer (WA-6), Mark Meadows (NC-11), Markwayne Mullin (OK-2), Kristi Noem (SD), Todd Rokita (IN-4), Keith Rothfus (PA-12), Rob Woodall (GA-7), Joe Barton (TX-6), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Mike Coffman (CO-6), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Dennis Heck (WA-10), Beto O'Rourke (TX-16), and Mark Takano (CA-41).