News

  • Legislative Update Week Ending June 10 2016

    More than 61 million people, including adults age 65 and older, and younger disabled adults who receive Social Security disability benefits, get their healthcare coverage though Medicare.[3] The Social Security hold harmless provision protects about 70 percent of beneficiaries (almost 43 million beneficiaries) from increases in the Medicare Part B premium that exceed the dollar amount of their COLA. When an individual's Part B premium increases more than the dollar amount of his or her COLA, the Part B premium is reduced to prevent a reduction in net Social Security benefits from one year to the next. .Why You Should Beware When The Doctor Wants To Hold You For "Observation" .You can receive Social Security benefits and unemployment benefits at the same time. But depending on the state where you live, the unemployment benefit amount might be reduced by receipt of a pension or other retirement income like Social Security. … Continued

  • Over 50 Organizations Sign Letter To Congress Opposing Chained Colas

    Proponents of the measure, which include some Democrats, say that addressing the projected shortfalls now would prevent draconian cuts or tax hikes later. The legislation would create congressional panels mandated to draft bipartisan legislation that restores solvency of the trust funds, and the bills would receive fast-track consideration in each chamber. .A new report has found that millions of senior Americans are missing out on over billion in benefits that help pay for healthcare, prescriptions, food, and utilities. TSCL is concerned that many Notch Babies may be missing out on these benefits that help those with limited income and resources, because they may not realize they are eligible. Many seniors struggle to pay for daily necessities like healthcare, medicine, housing, home energy and food. In addition many of these same older adults have one or more chronic health conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis resulting in higher healthcare costs and limitations on daily activities. .I hate that we're placing seniors in no-win situations, and that's why I've re-introduced My Seniors' Security Act. It ensures that COLA increases aren't just eaten up by rising health care costs and it recalculates COLAs completely. Specifically, my act would create a ‘circuit breaker' of sorts, so seniors never lose more than 30% of their COLA to Medicare premiums. … Continued

For more information about Social Security reform options, click here. To watch Wednesday's House Budget Committee Hearing in full, click here. .The Potential Cost to Social Security Trust Fund Is Growing At An Unprecedented Pace .Once non-citizen workers obtain a valid SSN, they can provide SSA with evidence of earnings reports from unauthorized employment prior to receiving their SSN. Their earnings will be reinstated under their valid SSN. In addition when a person files for benefits, a SSA employee reviews the earnings record with the worker and assists to establish any earnings that are not shown or are not correctly posted. .The Part B and Part D deductible period starts on January 1 of each year and ends on December 3If you were healthy during the year, but require doctor's services in November for the first time and the charge is 0, then you (or possibly your supplemental insurance plan) will have to pay that charge. If you don't see the doctor again until January, you start a whole new deductible period. If he charges you 0 again, then you or your insurer will pay the 0 again. .But that's not all Congress must do before October The Secretary of the Treasury has warned that if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling very soon the government will default on its bills sometime in October. The "full faith and credit" of the U.S. government is at stake here and the repercussions of a government default are not totally known but they could be disastrous. .Medicare alone does not cover all the costs you will have. Most people also get either a Medicare supplement to cover out-of-pocket costs and Part D plan for prescription drugs, or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with Part D coverage. .The House of Representatives, on the other hand, did not come back to town and go into session because of the continuing coronavirus emergency. No official date has been set for the return of the House, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said they will probably return sometime next week. .Healthcare researchers are questioning the surge in medical testing, particularly the aggressive use of advanced radiology tests like CTs, MRIs and ultrasounds. Their use has become routine, but doctors are not necessarily diagnosing more diseases and the tests can expose patients to high levels of radiation that can cause cancer. Some critics blame "defensive medicine" to avoid malpractice suits, but that's only part of the problem. Some critics say that the tests are becoming a crutch as doctors have less and less time to spend with patients. And all say that the profit motives give doctors incentives to over prescribe the tests. .Just years before they were set to retire, these individuals learned that they would receive significantly lower benefits than originally anticipated. The problem has grown and compounded over time, and TSCL believes that in order to make the program more equitable, some compensation for the injustice should be provided. We enthusiastically support Rep. Meng's Notch Fairness Act, and we were pleased to see one new cosponsor sign on this week.