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Senator Amy Klobuchar introduced S. 62 on January 9, 201It has since been referred to the Committee on Finance..Key Prescription Drug Bill Gains Support.Hospitals, which are often the biggest employers in their localities, or even their states, have furloughed workers, and the industry lost an estimated billion a month in foregone surgeries and procedures during the worst part of the pandemic. Hospitals rely on elective surgeries for a major portion of their revenue, because Medicare and private insurers tend to pay more for those procedures than other types of hospital care. Hospitals say they also have lost money in treating COVID-19, because of the amount of intensive care that patients need..On the other hand under Medicaid, net drug prices are heavily influenced by two rebates that are required by law. Manufacturers of brand name drugs must pay a rebate equal to 23.1% of the average price that manufacturers charge to pharmacies. In addition, for generics, manufacturers are required to pay a rebate of 13% of the average price they charge to pharmacies..7 Questions That Must Be Addressed About Social Security.Here's how it works. Undocumented immigrants use illegally obtained Social Security numbers to get jobs. Employers report earnings to the Social Security Administration as required by law. Those wages are used to calculate benefits when a worker files a claim. But when the Social Security Administration receives a name or SSN on a W-2 that does not match the agency's records, the wage report goes into an earnings suspense file while attempts are made to reconcile the discrepancy..This week, a bipartisan group of Senators sent a letter to the White House urging executive action on prescription drug prices. In addition, two key bills gained support in the House..Seniors deserve a Washington that works for them, and every American should be able to retire and live with dignity. I'm committed to doing everything I can in the Senate to ensure that happens..A divorce can throw a monkey wrench into retirement plans, especially for women whose earning records may have fewer work years and at lower earnings than their former spouses. Understanding your options can help you maximize your Social Security benefit and live a more secure retirement. Here are the four main eligibility rules to qualify for a benefit based on the work record of an ex-spouse:

Women Wait Longer To Get Care After Heart Attack Symptoms

This week most members of the House and Senate are back in their districts or states meeting with constituents or otherwise conducting business there. A few have stayed in Washington to take part in hearings that are scheduled this week, although since many hearings are now held virtually, they do not necessarily have to be in Washington..When asked how they responded to rising prices for meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy products, survey participants report reducing the amount that they consume of these foods and having to spend a larger portion of their budget on these items. "Most troubling of all, about 25 percent of survey participants reported they've gone without," Johnson says..Tightening eligibility requirements, including requiring disability applicants to have worked six of the past ten years, and modestly increasing the age at which it becomes easier to qualify for benefits from forty-five to fifty. … Continued

Report Section Medicare Part D A First Look At Prescription Drug Plans In 2019 Tables

Many other Democrats on Capitol Hill including President Obama seemed to share his concerns. However, since the budget blueprint is a resolution and not a bill, it will not require the signature of the President, and each of the proposals that appear in it including the repeal of the ACA and the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid will require the passage of separate legislation..Check your health plan's "out-of-pocket" maximum and budget a little more annually for emergencies: Traditional Medicare has no limit on out-of-pocket spending for hospital or doctors' services. But Medicare Advantage plans have annual out-of-pocket limits. On average, the out-of-pocket limits for Medicare Advantage plans is ,037 this year, but limits can be as much as ,700. Check the booklet that came with your plan, or call your plan's customer service number. It's a good idea to budget more than the out-of-pocket maximum for goods and services not covered by Medicare or your plan. For example, your plan may cover eye exams but not glasses. It's also good to have more the out-of-pocket maximum set aside in case you should ever require hospitalization..I recently learned that my ex-spouse passed away due to the coronavirus. He was older than I am, and had already started Social Security. He was getting about ,875 before we divorced. I'm remarried now, but my husband hasn't started benefits. He's only working part time. Would I possibly qualify for Social Security widower's benefits based on my ex-husband's Social Security? … Continued