Second, the federal government cannot afford the tax cut, which costs more than 5 billion annually. It is no secret that our nation is deep in debt, and the two-year, two percent tax holiday has not spurred the economy as many hoped it would. TSCL fears that, because of its economic constraints, the federal government's general revenues may not be a reliable source of funding for Social Security. The program is currently facing a billion cash-flow deficit, and an extension of the tax holiday could exacerbate its funding shortfall..Sadly, Social Security benefits and cost-of-living adjustments specifically, have not kept up with inflation in recent years. The Senior Citizens League has estimated that the 2021 COLA will be just 1.3%., the second lowest in its history. This comes as our nation grapples with a once-in-a-century pandemic and seniors are relying on their Social Security benefits to get by more than ever before..Social Security can be changed in two ways - but benefit cuts don't have to be inevitable. Increasing payroll taxes is the other avenue..If the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment were based on a more accurate measure of inflation for seniors, beneficiaries would not be receiving a record-low 0.3% increase this year. They would be receiving an increase of 2.1% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Do you support legislation that would base the COLA on a more accurate inflation index like the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly?.If you or someone you know is struggling to make their Social Security benefits stretch from one month to another, there are two Medicare programs that can help with medical costs for those eligible - Medicare Savings Programs which cover some Part B costs, and Medicare Extra Help which provides help with prescription costs..This year, for the sixth straight year, the Trustees issued a "Medicare funding warning." Marilyn Tavenner, CMS Administrator, stated: "While Medicare is stable for now, we have a lot of work ahead of us to guarantee its future." Expenditures by the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund have exceeded income since 2008 and are expected to do so for the foreseeable future. The Trust Fund is expected to cover only 87 percent of costs in 2024 and 67 percent of projected costs in 2050..Note the date and time of day of the call. Also note if you have a clear line or if the call sounds like it's coming from overseas. Does the person you are talking to have trouble with the language, have a heavy accent, etc.?.The federal government negotiates prescription drug prices for Medicaid and for veterans, but it is barred from negotiating lower prices for Medicare beneficiaries. As a result, senior citizens enrolled in Part D often pay much higher prices for their prescriptions. What are you doing to correct this unfair policy?.McCaskill compared such pharmaceutical industry's activities to those of Congressional lobbyists, and argued that doctors, like politicians, must be required to publicly disclose any gift they receive.

Health Costs Issue Brief Dental Hearing And Vision Costs And Coverage Among Medicare Beneficiaries In Traditional Medicare And Medicare Advantage

TSCL is pleased that lawmakers on the Senate Aging Committee are raising awareness of scams against seniors and we agree that more must be done to combat the growing issue. In the months ahead, we will advocate for legislation that would protect older Americans from financial abuse. In the meantime, we encourage our supporters to read the Aging Committee's updated Fraud Book by clicking HERE. As Chairman Collins said on Wednesday, "The more that seniors know about these scams, the less likely they are to fall victim.".Another initiative announced on Monday will improve the quality and safety requirements for nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. The new rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will update the standards that have been in place for nearly twenty-five years. According to the administration, it will "improve quality of life, enhance person-centered care and services for residents in nursing homes, improve resident safety, and bring these regulatory requirements into closer alignment with current professional standards.".While you probably won't find any single professional who can provide you with all the answers you may need for your mom, most areas of the country have access to an Agency on Aging that can help put you in touch with a number of valuable resources and people who can answer your questions. Most agencies serve specific geographic areas of several neighboring counties, although some operate statewide in less populated states. All Area Agencies on Aging receive federal funding that is supplemented with additional state and local funding. … Continued

Patient Education Preparing For Surgery Preparing Your Home For Your Needs After Surgery

This week, the Social Security and Medicare Trustees released their annual reports on the state of the trust funds, and one key bill gained critical support..We should also ensure senior citizens are getting an accurate cost of living adjustment. The model the government is using right now would be fine if seniors were regularly buying iPods and laptop computers. But that's just not the case. I've proposed a better way to calculate the COLA based on items seniors actually use, such as food, housing, gasoline, healthcare and prescription drugs..Note any other relevant information and then hang up. … Continued

Contact Atavista Farm Today!