Meanwhile, Republicans argued that Medicare should not be expanded when its hospital fund is already slated to be insolvent in 2026. .Call your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and ask for free counseling from a Medicare counselor. You can find local contact info here: https://www.shiptacenter.org. Many of these programs operate through local agencies on aging or senior services departments. Counselors can help you over the phone from home. .The federal government negotiates prescription drug prices for Medicaid and for veterans, but it is not allowed to negotiate lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries. Do you support this policy? .Unlike income brackets that are adjusted annually, the income thresholds that subject Social Security income to taxation are fixed. Because of this, the number of Social Security recipients who are hit by the tax has increased substantially over the years as incomes have grown. .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. .The report attributed the rapid increase to "an aging population, rising health care costs, and an expansion of federal subsidies for health insurance." In 2039, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs are expected to cost approximately 14 percent of the economy, which is double the 7 percent average that has held steady over the past forty years. .For example, RMDs for retirees who turned 70 ½ in 2019 would have been based on the value of their retirement accounts on December 31, 201At that time the Dow was 28,462 compared to 24,101 on April 1, 2020, when their RMD was due. However, the CARES Act waiver applies to this group as well as people like you who turn 70 ½ in 2020. .This week, House lawmakers remained in their home districts to continue the August recess. Meanwhile, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) saw support grow in the Senate for three bipartisan bills that would strengthen the Medicare program. .TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) was formed in 1993 to protect "earned" Social Security and Medicare benefits. Many TSCL members are affected by the Notch, and rank Notch Reform as their top legislative priority. TSCL is the only national senior citizens action organization to continue to lobby for Notch Reform. To date, TSCL has 1.3 million members and supporters who participate in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns.