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Higher Medigap costs: Experts say that beneficiaries with Medigap supplements tend to use more services than those without such coverage. Currently the plans often cover part or most of the deductibles and the co-insurance. Lawmakers from both parties propose requiring beneficiaries enrolled in Medigap plans to pay more through higher deductibles and co-payments. President Obama's 2014 budget plan called for imposing a new surcharge on beneficiaries who buy Medigap plans in 2017..The CPI-E Act, if signed into law, would amend the Social Security Act with regard to the annual cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security and Medicare benefits. Currently, the COLA is based upon the spending patterns of young, urban workers, but this legislation would calculate the COLA based on the spending patterns of seniors..The report stated that the four changes together would eliminate 113% of Social Security's projected long-term financing gap. The majority of participants, who included all income levels, and political party affiliations, preferred the package of changes. "This survey reflects similar findings to surveys conducted by TSCL," says TSCL's Executive Director Shannon Benton. We hope that this survey can serve as an outline for a plan to strengthen Social Security without having to rely on benefit cuts," she states. "We encourage our readers to share the findings of this study with your Members of Congress," Benton adds..When you are a hospital inpatient, Medicare Part A covers inpatient services. Generally that means you will pay a one-time deductible for all of your hospital services for the first 60 days, although costs may be somewhat different if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. In addition, Medicare will only cover the care you receive in a skilled nursing facility if you had a "qualifying hospital stay." To qualify, you must be a hospital inpatient for at least 3 days in a row, and Medicare doesn't count the day of your discharge.."Dying With Debt: The Hidden Financial Crisis," Steve Yoder, The Fiscal Times, June 12, 2013.The COLA is calculated using data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Of the CPI groups that the Bureau of Labor Statistics measures, the CPI-W covers only 28% of the total U.S. population, and specifically excludes households "with no one in the labor force, such as retirees.".Only about 5% of the death certificates listed only Covid-19, and that was more frequently the case when the person died at home..The Senior Citizens League believes it is essential for older Americans to receive the primary and preventive care that is needed to ensure good health in retirement. In a recent poll conducted by The Senior Citizens League, 79% of respondents said they would like to see Medicare coverage expanded to include hearing, vision, and dental services. Only 9% said Medicare coverage should remain unchanged, while 14% said they would like to see private Medicare Advantage plans which sometimes cover more of these services better promoted..Also last week, House Democrats unveiled a range of health care measures to be included in their coming .5 trillion package, including provisions to lower prescription drug prices and expand Medicaid in the 12 GOP-led states that have refused to do so. The measure unveiled by the House Energy and Commerce Committee includes legislation to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices, known as H.R. 3.