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New Part D plan drug pricing programs may lower costs for those who seek out the savings. Recent Congressional scrutiny on drug pricing may be spurring some drug plans to drop prices. One of the biggest cost-savings found is a new drug plan pricing program that lowers the cost of insulin. In the 2018, the lowest cost Part D plan charged an copay for a 100/ML of Lantus Solostar. In 2019, a different plan had lowest cost copays charging as little as .00 - .00 for Lantus Solostar, in the Cigna-HealthSpring Rx Secure - Extra Part D plan. The highest cost plan, which does not cover Lantus, charges the full price, 3.18 per 100/ML..Lower than expected payroll tax revenues. Payroll taxes account for roughly 89% of Social Security's financing. But in 2020, businesses nationwide temporarily shuttered due to emergency stay at home orders. In addition, widespread layoffs, reductions in work hours, and job losses resulted in the collection of fewer payroll tax revenues. Emergency legislation that was passed last year allowed employers to even temporarily defer payment of Social Security payroll taxes until December of 2022 to help companies shore up cash flow and stay in business. While the job market is getting back on its feet again in 2021, unemployment is still higher than it was prior to the pandemic, and payroll tax revenue has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels..This week, the House Budget Committee advanced a budget resolution that would reform the Medicare program, and the Senate Aging Committee met to discuss the trajectory of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, three key bills gained support in Congress..It also seems to be a more severe flu strain than the seasonal flu which means more people require greater medical care. For most people this flu is survivable but without the extra medical care that someone might normally need they may succumb to it..Scientists in China, Kazakhstan, India, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and the United States have brought 10 potential COVID-19 vaccines to the point where they are being evaluated in humans in some form. Another 115 are considered by the World Health Organization to be in the "preclinical" stage of development. In some cases, these preclinical vaccine candidates are scarcely off the drawing board. In others, they are still being tweaked or tested in cells. Some are being tried in lab animals..Drug Makers Pour Huge Dollars into Campaigns.To maximize your deductions, plan to take a quiet moment to organize your health expense paper work and get up to speed on allowable medical expenses. Even the most compulsive record-keeper can miss some. Remember that any unreimbursed premiums you pay for Part A, Part B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap and Part D plans are deductible. In addition, here are a few of the commonly missed deductions, but be sure to talk to a professional tax preparer or financial advisor to check the availability of any possible deductions for you:.Ancillary services, such as anesthesiology, radiology, and laboratory services, from an out-of-network provider..Long Term Care Ombudsmen: Find information about long term care facilities in your area, and investigations of complaints if you've encountered a problem.