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The proposal would potentially help those enrolled in Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, particularly in cases where a drug is not covered by the individual's plan or, as a less-expensive alternative, when the cost of importing a drug is lower than the co-pay for purchasing the medication with Part D plan coverage. Proponents of importation point out that, over the long-term, increased competition from imported drugs could pressure drug companies to reduce their prices in the U.S. and thus help reduce costs for other drugs you may take.."Is There A Subprime Car Loan Bubble?" Bob Sullivan, Credit.com, March 23, 2015..A new Medicare Advantage plan is available in my area and the premiums are extremely low. It would save me a lot of money this year, so I'm thinking about dropping my Medigap and Part D plan to enroll in the new Medicare Advantage Plan during the fall Open Enrollment period. Can you explain the pros and cons of doing this?.Visit to participate in TSCL's annual Senior Survey..Since 1893, the Senate has observed Washington's birthday by selecting one of its members to read Washington's Farewell Address. The assignment alternates between members of each political party. At the conclusion of each reading, the appointed senator inscribes his or her name and brief remarks in a black, leather-bound book maintained by the secretary of the Senate..Between January of 2000 and January of 2020, Social Security COLAs increased benefits by 53 percent, but the cost of goods and services purchased by typical retirees rose by almost twice as much - 99.3 percent. Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs, housing, and homeowner's insurance were among the most rapidly - rising costs over the past year..House Republicans surprised the nation earlier this year by approving an increase to the federal budget debt limit in exchange for passing the "No Budget, No Pay Act." The legislation required Members of Congress in both chambers to pass a budget resolution by April 15, 2013, or their pay would be withheld until they do. According to a TSCL poll, 62 percent of seniors thought the "No Budget, No Pay Act" was a smart move that would get the legislative process back on track..The difference in drug prices between the lowest and highest costing plans, can be in the hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. For brand name and specialty drugs, the most frequent reason that the drug costs so much more in the highest costing plan is lack of coverage. The drug is not listed on the high cost plan's formulary. For example, the lowest cost plan for Sovaldi, a drug used to treat Hepatitis C, charges ,600 in co-insurance. The highest cost drug plan charges 0,800, the full cost of the drug, because Sovaldi is not on the plan's formulary..In the meantime, leaders in Congress are working on a plan to fund the federal government past January 19th. In a joint statement released on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said: "It is important that we achieve a two-year agreement that funds our troops and provides for our national security and other critical functions of the federal government."