News

  • Majority Of Retirees Say Cola Should Be Top Priority For Congress 2

    Social Security Reform – Work for solutions that extend the Trust Fund's solvency and strengthen the program without enacting harmful cuts. .The "grandparent scam" has been around for a while, where a scammer poses as a relative, often a grandchild, in a desperate situation in urgent need of money. Due to the economic crisis created by the pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission has worked to raise the awareness of the grandparent scam. .Finally, two new cosponsors – Representative Jim Renacci (OH-16) and Representative Beto O'Rourke (TX-16) – signed on to the bipartisan CREATES Act (H.R. 2212), bringing the total up to twenty-one. If adopted, the CREATES Act would increase competition in the prescription drug industry by encouraging generic and biosimilar drug manufacturers to introduce their products to the market more quickly. … Continued

  • Weekly Update For Week Ending July 3 2020

    How Can My Sister's Son-In-Law Work And Claim Disability? .The recommendation of MedPAC would combine the deductibles for Part A and Part B services. Currently the deductibles are charged separately and for good cause. About 80 percent of Medicare beneficiaries never pay a Part A deductible because they don't require hospitalization in most years. The Part A deductible for hospital inpatient services is ,156, a cost that is covered in full today by all Medigap supplements. Some Medigap supplements also cover all of the Part B deductible, which is 0 in 201Costs differ for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage depending on the plan. Co-payments would also change and vary by the type of service and provider. .Sources: "Social Security Benefits for Noncitizens," Congressional Research Service, July 20, 2006, RL32004. … Continued

If you have been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms. .In 1988, a report by the former U. S. General Accounting Office, now the Government Accountability Office (GAO), cited an example of two sisters who started working at the same book bindery, on the same day, in October 195Audrey was born in March 1916, and Edith in June of 191The two had almost identical lifetime earnings. The younger sister Edith (born 1917) received a monthly benefit of 2.60, 1.80 less than her older sister Audrey (born 1916), who received 4.40 per month. .In addition to funding the government, the 2,000-page deal will renew health benefits for 9/11 responders, lift a ban on the exportation of crude oil that has been around for nearly fifty years, and delay two Obamacare taxes for two additional years – one tax on medical devices and one tax on high-cost "Cadillac" healthcare plans. As a part of the deal, leaders in Congress also agreed to make permanent a number of tax breaks that have been subject to frequent renewals for decades. .In what was a major organization-wide effort, the TSCL staff dispersed across House of Representatives offices to hand-deliver the message of our supporters. The hundreds of thousands of petitions that poured into the TSCL office from nearly every Congressional district were organized into a long list of vocal and concerned citizens. The effect created a bold statement and embodied the true spirit of TSCL's politically-engaged supporters. .Former doughnut hole coverage gap: After spending the initial coverage amount of ,005, you are responsible for 25% co-insurance for both generic and brand name drugs, plus a portion of the pharmacy dispensing fee which is approximately $$Your drug plan pays 75% of the cost of generic drugs and 5% on brand-name drugs. The drug manufacturer provides a 70% discount on brand-name drugs. Your total costs in this stage could run as high as ,345 between the end of the Initial Coverage Period and the Catastrophic stage of coverage begins. Altogether, beneficiaries could be responsible for as much as ,350 in TrOOP, which includes the drug costs paid by the beneficiary and the 70% discount on brand-name drugs provided by the drug manufacturer. Payments made by the drug plan DO NOT count TrOOP costs. .Until June 1, 2016 he was the Director, RAFB Retiree Activities Office and he stays actively involved in the Warner Robins community including participating in Retiree Appreciation Days, Robins AFB, planning and participating in Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities, TREA's JROTC Awards Program, and the Robins Angel Tree program among others. .This is the same bill he introduced in 2019 which TSCL endorsed then and we have endorsed this new bill once again. .Why should seniors be saddled with the ripple effect of things they don't even buy? That just doesn't make sense. .MedPAC also recommended increased financial assistance for low-income Medicare beneficiaries in its report. Currently, those with incomes up to 135 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), which help beneficiaries cover the cost of Part B premiums. The Commissioners recommended extending the subsidy to those with incomes up to 150 percent of the poverty level. This would save those who qualify approximately ,300 a year in Part B premium costs, and the Commissioners believe it would "free up resources" for beneficiaries who are currently struggling to pay out-of-pocket costs.