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Because of the deficit projections some members of Congress have once again, raised the issue of balancing the federal budget on the backs of senior citizens..If you or a family member have limited income and have trouble paying Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs, Medicare Savings Programs may help. If you qualify, you may get help paying for your Medicare premiums and deductibles and coinsurance if your income and savings meet the limits. In addition, you automatically qualify for Extra Help paying the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage..Mary Johnson a policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League told Stephen Ohlemacher of the Associated Press that she has serious concerns about the long-term impact of Tuesday's COLA announcement. She said, "This loss of anticipated retirement income compounds every year, causing people to spend through retirement savings far more quickly than planned. Over the course of a 25- or 30-year retirement, it reduces anticipated Social Security income by tens of thousands of dollars.".The letter was written in response to recent comments from Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, who told reporters last week that he has been "actively discussing potential executive or administrative solutions" to the prescription drug issue with President Trump. The group of Senators said, "We write to express our support for such efforts that could provide immediate relief to Americans.".For more information on the Social Security Fairness Act, visit the Bill Tracking section of our website. To stay updated on its progress in Congress, follow TSCL on Facebook or Twitter..The Senior Citizens League supports legislation that protects Medicare benefits and lowers out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries. To learn how to get involved, visit..I have been investigating the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs for some time. During my investigation, I have been contacted by a huge range of people - patients, doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers - all warning about massive price increases of certain medications. They gave me example, after example, of drug prices that have been jacked up repeatedly - with no apparent justification, and with no evident link to any increases in the costs of manufacturing these drugs..Another concern about congressional inaction on the debt ceiling is the potential for cuts to programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. In recent debates, Social Security benefits have been used as a bargaining chip and have been held hostage to the debt limit increase. Some retirees have felt the sting of unexpected benefit cuts. In 2015, following the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act, millions of seniors, already eligible for Social Security benefits, learned that an important claiming method called "file and suspend" a particularly important protection for women who tend to have lower benefits than men would no longer be an option to them..There's an old saying: "Laws are like sausages; it is better not to see them being made."