Sen. Lindsey Graham said, "I do believe we should be helping people on Social Security because the price of food has gone up and I don't see any end in sight," he said. "A payment to Social Security recipients who are on fixed income of ,000 and below might make sense.".As an indicator of low inflation, based on consumer price index data through April of this year, Johnson estimates that the COLA for 2019 will be about 1.7%percent. That number could change, since there are still five months of consumer price index data to be collected before the Social Security Administration announces the COLA in October..Also, TSCL plans to be on the Hill next week visiting with the staffs of Republican Senators to find out where they are with regard to health care legislation, and in particular the Grassley-Wyden bill..You will need to contact Social Security at to request an appointment. Social Security has a local office locator that you can find here. In the meantime learn more about Social Security survivors benefits on the."Anyone would have to acknowledge that a lot of what has gone on with the pharmaceutical industry as it relates to their contacts with doctors is lobbying, pure and simple," McCaskill said in the hearing. "If we are going to limit the lunches that can be bought for members of Congress in the context of lobbying, shouldn't we have the same kind of disclosures with doctors? And if it is in fact about the patients, the industry should have no problem disclosing how much money they are spending on doctors in terms of recreational time. I'm talking about golf, I'm talking about trips, I'm talking about dinners, I'm talking about expensive wine. Why in the world would we allow that to go on without the public and the patients knowing that's going on?".It makes no difference if a Member of Congress has broken the law. This newsletter recently reported that former Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who was sentenced to eight years in jail for bribery charges, is entitled to an annual pension of about ,000. Currently, it takes an act of treason for a Member of the House or Senate to lose a pension..Thousands of prescriptions are abandoned at pharmacies each year, often due to high prices. There are several things you can do to bring that cost down to a more manageable level..Costs not covered by Medicare such as dental, vision and audio care..House leaders and a bipartisan group of 40 senators recently sent a letters to President Obama, and Medicare's Administrator, Marilyn Tavenner, expressing serious concerns about the impact of Obamacare cuts. "These cuts, in addition to proposed rules issued by CMS, will force millions of American seniors to face higher health care costs or lose access to their doctor, health plan, lifesaving drugs, and the benefits they've come to rely on," House leaders wrote. The Senate letter stated, "We urge you to maintain payment levels that will allow MA beneficiaries to be protected from disruptive changes in 2015."
