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The plan would comprehensively reform Medicare by transforming it into a "premium support" program, where seniors would be given vouchers by the federal government to purchase private health insurance coverage on a federal exchange. Experts predict that "premium support" models like the one laid out in the "Budget for a Brighter American Future" would result in substantially higher out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries over time..Alzheimer's Drug Could Increase Part B Premiums for Everyone A newly approved drug to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease is drawing criticism for it's ,000 price tag, especially given its lack of proven effectiveness. Aduhelm stirred controversy when the Food and Drug Administration's own expert advisory panel was nearly unanimous in opposing the drug's approval due to mixed results in studies of effectiveness..Note any other relevant information and then hang up..Now Medicare has launched a formal process to determine whether Aduhelm will be covered, after a widespread uproar spurred a Congressional investigation. The final decision isn't expected until next spring, although an initial ruling could come around January. Medicare's coverage process came on the same day that two House committees asked drug maker Biogen to turn over documents on how the drug was developed and priced, and on its dealings with government officials at the US Food and Drug Administration..TSCL is concerned that an immigration amnesty would create new liabilities for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, that would be based on illegal work. Under current law, the Social Security benefits of immigrants who worked illegally, and who later gain work authorization, are calculated at least in part, on earnings from jobs worked under fraudulent numbers prior to gaining legal status..The Senior Citizens League opposes the plan that was advanced by the Budget Committee this week since it would lead to increased costs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and it would cut benefits for Social Security recipients. Instead, we support legislation like the Social Security 2100 Act and the Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act, which would strengthen and reform the Social Security and Medicare programs responsibly, without cutting benefits for current or future retirees..New legislation retroactively extends several tax breaks that affect the amount you may deduct in unreimbursed medical expenses. The lower threshold for itemized medical expense deduction was one of the breaks extended. The threshold under the 2017 tax law was originally scheduled to rise from the excess of 7.5% of adjusted gross income to 10% of AGI for the 2019 tax year. But new legislation extended the 7.5% AGI level..In some cases, where the surviving spouse is younger, or there is a disabled child, the higher monthly benefit might be preferable because presumably it would be payable for a longer period of time. In addition, the Notch Reform benefit would be split among eligible survivors, for example, a widow and a former divorced spouse. Under these circumstances the higher monthly benefit may also yield more than the lump-sum. But for most Notch Babies or their survivors, TSCL believes the lump-sum would provide a higher benefit..The first change affects those who hit the Medicare Part D donut hole, or the gap in coverage that occurs after a beneficiary's total drug costs reach ,970 and before they total ,750. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, last year 2.8 million seniors who hit the donut hole saved an average of 7 on prescription drugs due to the Affordable Care Act. This year, Medicare will provide an additional subsidy to those who hit the coverage gap, resulting in an additional in savings for the average beneficiary.