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"How Republicans' Brilliant Budget Tactic Backfired," Eric Pianin, The Fiscal Times, May 28, 2013..Medicare costs often consume up to half of your Social Security benefit. In a recent TSCL survey, 48% of respondents said they spent 11% to 33% of their Social Security benefits on healthcare in 201Another 25% said they spent from 34% to 50% of their Social Security on healthcare..If your "provisional" income is over the base amount, then a portion of your Social Security benefits would be taxable. Up to 50% of your Social Security benefits are taxable if your provisional income is above ,000 to ,000 if you file singly, or above ,000 to ,000 for joint filers. If your provisional income exceeds ,000 or ,000, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits are taxable..Dealerships and lenders that use these tactics often target older consumers, low-income people with credit problems, and people with low "financial I.Q.s" by taking advantage of the borrower's lack of understanding about loans, terms and finances in general. The lender makes money from charging excessively high interest rates and stacking terms in its favor, and from the profits when the vehicle is repossessed and resold, sometimes to multiple buyers..Doug Osborne served in the US Air Force for 20 years. After retiring, he continued his career in the technology field using the knowledge gained during his enlistment. Doug is a lifetime member of TREThe Enlisted Association and has served on multiple committees, such as; Awards, IT, and the 5-year plan. He routinely donates his time, effort and money to the missions of TREA and The Senior Citizens League and encourages using technology to a greater degree. As the Legislative Liaison for TSCL's Board of Directors, he helps to educate seniors on various issues that strike close to home. He meets quarterly with Members of Congress and/or their staff to ensure they are aware of the concerns of TSCL supporters in their specific districts and to encourage them to support legislation that benefits senior citizens. Doug is also involved with The American Legion and, when able, Doug supports Team Rubicon on deployments. He lives in Parker, Colorado with his wife, Debbie..As far as we can tell, the answer to the question of why this coronavirus is getting so much more attention and such extraordinary measures are being taken as compared to previous flu outbreaks is the fact that this flu apparently spreads so quickly. Because of that, it can overwhelm the ability of local health systems to handle all of those who come down with the flu..A COLA as low as 1.2% increases the risk that Medicare Part B premiums for 2020 would take the entire amount of any COLA increase for many beneficiaries. This would be especially true for any Part B increase around .00 per month..Many of TSCL's supporters are older and less affluent. And some of them are "Notch Victims," individuals who receive lower Social Security benefits because they were born between the years of 1917 and 1926..A balanced budget amendment to the constitution might sound like a good idea on the surface, but when the details are examined, it could be disastrous for programs like Social Security and Medicare. The Senior Citizens League tirelessly advocated against its adoption when it was considered earlier this year, and because lawmakers aren't giving up on it anytime soon, we aren't either.