Progressives see expanding the popular entitlement as essential to fulfilling their campaign pledges and keeping Democratic control of the House and Senate. But the reforms threaten the bottom line of insurers who administer private Medicare plans and sell supplemental coverage for dental, vision and hearing services. Groups like the American Dental Association, worried their members will be paid less in traditional Medicare than in private Medicare plans, are also pushing to limit the new benefits to the poorest Americans..These provisions are outdated and unfair to many seniors, and it's time to repeal them. Workers who paid into Social Security and their spouses should not be penalized and lose earned benefits for working in public service and the private sector. If you paid into Social Security, this is your money, not a government entitlement or subsidy..Nationwide, nearly 1.5 million people are affected by the WEP, meaning that those who receive a public pension from a job, and are not covered by Social Security, see their benefits reduced. For example, a teacher who spends summers working a second job, or a first responder who leaves the force after years of service, but is not yet ready to retire, can see his or her benefits reduced by up to 40 percent..NASI's survey used an innovative trade - off analysis approach to learn what Social Security changes Americans favor and are willing to pay for. Trade - off analysis is commonly used in market research for product development. It determines the effect of decreasing one or more key factors and simultaneously increasing one or more other key factors in a decision, design or project. More than 2,000 Americans over the age of 21 participated and 87% percent of respondents said they are registered voters..Reps. Brad Miller, Frederica Wilson, Laura Richardson, Jim McDermott Robert Andrews, Sam Graves, Jim Gerlach, Madeleine Bordallo, Patrick Meehan, Jon Runyan, and Leonard Lance signed on to Rep. Howard McKeon's H.R. 133The co-sponsor total is at 145..It remains to be seen whether a deal will be reached before the December deadline Congressional Quarterly reports that the prospects for an agreement are "dimming." Discussions will likely continue behind closed doors over the upcoming weeks, and TSCL will continue to monitor the negotiations. Check back for updates every Friday..Click here to learn more about the NASI survey..Keep up with the latest. Follow TSCL on Twitter and Facebook..The plans also reduce spending on premiums, because they eliminate the need for supplemental insurance. While the majority of Medicare beneficiaries still receive their Medicare benefits through traditional Medicare, many also purchase a Medicare supplement or "Medigap" policy to cover the considerable amount of out-of-pocket spending that Medicare alone does not cover, and a free-standing Part D drug plan.
