Medicare remains a target of budget cuts in Washington as political leaders and other policy makers consider potential changes to the program. How much do you know about Medicare, the people it serves, the benefits it covers, and its financial status?.Social Security and Medicare remain the targets of plans to reduce federal spending. Over the past 12 months, both Members of Congress and President Obama came close to agreeing on cuts to Social Security benefits, including cost-of-living adjustments and making seniors pay more for their Medicare. How much are Social Security benefits worth over a lifetime and what can you count on? A baby boomer retiring with an "average" benefit of ,100 in 2011 can expect to receive 0,225 over ten years, and 3,641 if he or she lives twenty-five years, due to the compounding effect of the cost-of-living adjustments..The BPC notes that this combination of lower revenues and higher program costs will shorten the solvency of the Social Security. Its blog points to past changes in Social Security solvency. In 2008, prior to the full impact of the Great Recession, Social Security Trustees estimated the Trust Fund would be depleted in 204By the time the recession had run its course, in 2012 high unemployment and sluggish economic growth had moved up the insolvency date to 2033..Symptoms of the two illnesses are similar, and when seasonal influenza season arrives later this year it will be important for public-health authorities and health workers to be able to differentiate between the two viruses. Such a test would help determine whether Covid-19 infections are experiencing a second wave, or if patients are showing up with normal seasonal flu..All of this adds up to less money for retirement, and greater dependence on Social Security as insurance against retirement savings that are so closely tied to the value of equities and housing. "This situation was caused by COVID-19 and illustrates why Congress needs to strengthen Social Security and Medicare benefits," Johnson says. The Senior Citizens League supports legislation that would boost Social Security benefits for all retirees and supports legislation that would lower Medicare costs..After passing the so-called "cromnibus" late last week, Members of Congress returned to their home states and districts for the remainder of the year. They will return to Capitol Hill in January to begin the 114th Congress..Shannon Benton, Executive Director.Immigrants use fake or stolen Social Security numbers to work in the U.S., and the SSA receives more than 9 million W2s every year in which the name and Social Security number don't match those in the Administration's records. Those W2s are saved to a special Earnings Suspense File until the SSA reconciles them with the rightful owner at a later date, which can occur years later when a claim is filed..The report further stated that "Dental care was the most commonly postponed service, with 43% having delayed care. Thirty-six percent put off checkups and treatment for ongoing conditions, while 32% delayed diagnostic screenings.
