I was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 which required surgery and considerable follow-up treatment. I also required extensive dental work during the year. My medical and dental expenses alone totaled more than ,000, and that does not include my husband's premiums and out-of-pocket costs, which were close to ,000. Will we be able to deduct these expenses on our income taxes? We were unable to deduct our routine medical costs last year..Recent healthcare reform legislation gradually reduces what beneficiaries must spend when they reach the Part D doughnut hole or gap in coverage. Medicare consumers who hit the doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs and a 7 percent discount on generics in 201While that's good news, don't breathe any sighs of relief just yet. Seniors and the disabled who hit the doughnut hole must still spend ,448 in total drug costs in 2011 before they reach catastrophic coverage period..The CMS announced new streamlined payment mechanisms for healthcare provider transactions this week. Doctors, hospitals, health plans, and states will all see reduced administrative costs under CMS' larger "administrative simplification" initiative..Be sure to check out the TSCL website, for updates to bill co-sponsor lists and for newly introduced legislation. As TSCL continues to work with people on Capitol Hill to make your issues known, your help is also needed and greatly appreciated..punitive tax penalty..Alexandria, VMore than 90 percent of older Americans are likely to be making a secret Christmas wish for the New Year, says The Senior Citizens League. "That's to make ends meet," says TSCL Chairman, Ed Cates. A national survey conducted by TSCL earlier this year found that 98 percent of Social Security recipients participating reported the annual cost-of-living adjustment had increased their Social Security benefits by less than a month in 2014, but 92 percent said their monthly expenses had increased by more than "That disparity between COLAs and rising costs is the 'Grinch that's stealing Christmas' for millions of older Americans this year," Cates says..But we all must face the reality that unless we continue the safety measures of masks and handwashing, this will get worse..Will you pay taxes on your Social Security benefits this year? Take TSCL's annual Senior Survey, visit..When left untreated, these conditions often cause serious health complications and injuries. But when treated successfully, the result is improved overall health and lower costs for Medicare and patients. For example, Mary J. who lives near Charlottesville, Virginia recently told us she suffered for years with severe chronic pulmonary and gastric infections. After periodontitis was discovered and treated with oral surgery last year, her chronic cough and inflammatory symptoms cleared up completely. Since then, Mary has successfully gone without inhalers and frequent visits to her primary care physician, gastroenterologist, and pulmonologist, saving Medicare thousands of dollars.
