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The average Social Security benefit today is only ,240 a month. That's only 25% above the federal poverty level. More than one -third of all recipients depend on Social Security for 90% of their retirement income..With it being such a contentious election year, Congress enacted legislation to limit that jump in Part B which could be made even worse because the COLAs of so many beneficiaries would not be high enough to cover the full amount of the increase..TSCL is also highly concerned that the candidates are not talking enough about protecting the annual COLA from cuts. During the recent 2011 debt limit talks with House Speaker John Boehner, President Obama floated a debt reduction plan that would have reduced government spending annual increase by using the chained Consumer Price Index to calculate the COLA..Half of the medications that saw price hikes followed price increases in 2019 and 2020, according to the report..Estimates by the Social Security Administration indicate that if the taxable maximum were eliminated, and the payroll tax of 12.4% were applied to all earnings, that program solvency would be extended as much as 40 years. This includes allowing retired workers credit for benefits on the higher earnings. And not only would lifting the taxable maximum keep the program financed well into future, it would pay for providing a more fair and slightly higher COLA using the CPI-E..In a recent Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill questioned medical and pharmaceutical industry leaders about the financial relationship between physicians and drug companies. Pharmaceutical companies currently spend billions of dollars annually 90 percent of their marketing program on gifts, lunches, drug samples, and sponsorships of education programs for doctors without any form of public disclosure, leading many to question whether economic incentives provided by the industry cloud physicians' judgment and put profits ahead of patients.."Implications of the Payroll Tax Holiday for Social Security," National Academy of Social Insurance, April 201"'Temporary' tax cuts plentiful, and often long term," USA Today, December 8, 2011..Johnson compared the lowest and highest cost between drug plans for a list of 12 frequently - prescribed drugs. The list includes commonly prescribed brand name and specialty drugs, as well as two widely - used generics. The analysis found:.I've been out of work since late March. The company that I was working for is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, and I haven't found a new job yet. I turn 64 in two months, but if I start Social Security now my retirement benefit would be pretty low.

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Practice using the tool: Have your Medicare number, information about your current coverage, and a complete list of prescription drugs, including dosages and the number you need per month at hand. The Plan Finder will ask you to provide information including your zip code, current Medicare coverage, the drugs you take, the pharmacies you plan to use, and whether you want to see just Part D stand alone plans or Medicare Advantage plans or both. For meaningful results accurately enter all your prescriptions. When complete get your Drug List ID number, print it out and save it. You don't want to enter it again every time you revisit the Plan Finder and invariably you will..Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not announced his health care priorities for the Senate this year. He still refuses to bring the bi-partisan Grassley-Wyden bill that would lower prescription drug prices up for debate on the Senate floor so that may be one of the reasons he has not issued information about his priorities..Junk fees. Is the loan loaded with add-on products, like "GAP" insurance, service contracts, or credit life insurance? These inflate the cost of the vehicle and loan size, as well as the potential loan kick - back for the dealer. … Continued

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President Trump is insisting on another payroll tax cut for any economic stimulus package. But the proposal is unlikely to provide financial help for unemployed workers who need the money, and would worsen existing financing problems for Social Security, Medicare, and program beneficiaries, warns The Senior Citizens League. "Today's retirees - more than 61.2 million people - depend on Social Security and Medicare payroll tax revenues for their Social Security and Medicare benefits," says Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy analyst. "Their number one concern is that down the line, benefits will be permanently cut to pay for these 'temporary' tax cuts," she says..Check periodic costs: Next check for periodic costs like blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, dental and eye exams. These are the expenses you have once or twice annually, or every few years. When a new test is ordered, ask your doctor whether it's a one-time test, or whether it's likely you will be taking that test again periodically. Ask the recommended frequency for that test. Once you have a list of tests and the frequency and what it cost, you can start to develop a long-term contingency healthcare budget, at least based on your current health status..Get the spiel. Keep pen and paper close to your phone and the next time you get the call, write down the offer. Without giving away any of your own information stay on the line to talk to an agent. What is the item or service and what are the terms? … Continued