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the doctors, and many are not filling prescriptions. But foregoing healthcare.Low-income beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. According to the Congressional Research Service, state Medicaid programs pay the Medicare Part B premiums of about 18% of Medicare beneficiaries. Although this group is not protected by the hold harmless provision, because their state Medicaid program pays their Medicare premium it is not deducted from their Social Security. Increases in Part B premiums would not reduce their Social Security their benefits.."The group of Democrats blocked one committee from advancing their party's drug-pricing legislation, with two members arguing it was too far-reaching and could stymie innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. Some of those Democrats also want to rein in a proposal to expand Medicare to include dental coverage, a high priority for progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders.".Also, in the days leading up to the election many candidates will make appearances at local events, giving concerned voters an excellent opportunity to have their questions addressed. We encourage you to approach your Senators, Representatives, and candidates to request their support for fair cost-of-living adjustments and other key issues affecting seniors..Rep. Bill Huizinga pledged his support for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act last week. If passed, the bill would prevent illegal immigrants from receiving earned credit toward Social Security benefits. With the new co-sponsor, the total is now 69..To begin with, it will apply only to some seniors, depending on which Medicare supplement program they enroll in, and it is completely voluntary on the part of both the supplement provider and the individual enrolled in Medicare..Sen. Enzi, one of the leading negotiators, said in a statement: "Congress is poised to approve a 10-year balanced budget for the first time since 2001, which represents an important step in confronting the nation's chronic overspending. This will help change the way we do business here in Washington to make the government live within its means just like hardworking families.".The difference in drug prices between the two programs is due to two reasons. Under Medicare Part D, the government isn't negotiating drug costs on behalf of beneficiaries, and Part D has no cap on out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs. The lack of a cap acts as a perverse incentive for drug makers and drug plans to get beneficiaries to use the most expensive drugs, because Medicare reimburses drug plans 80% of the cost in the final catastrophic phase of coverage. The higher the cost of the drug, the more drug plans receive from Medicare. Medicare patients who rely on such medications could owe thousands of dollars out-of-pocket every year for a single drug, even when their Part D plan covers the drug..Costofliving adjustments are falling to anemic lows again in 201Seniors and the disabled will learn the 2013 increase on October 16, 2012, but TSCL expects the increase will be about 1.1%. That would raise the average monthly benefit .80 from ,126 to ,141.80 hardly enough to offset big expected spikes in food costs which are rising twice as fast. The rapid increase in home heating fuels and prescription drug costs also outstrips the COLA as well.