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That subject is the coronavirus flu. We wrote a little about it last week, but we still have questions and concerns and we think you probably do, also. Let's start by pointing out the following: even the world's top infectious-disease specialists still aren't sure how lethal a threat the coronavirus presents..Does your anesthesiologist have your correct Medicare number and your health plan or supplement information? Patients often meet the anesthesiologist just minutes before surgery, but it's better to learn ahead of time whether the anesthesiologist who will provide your care accepts Medicare and is in your plan's network. Hopefully your anesthesiologist has the paperwork correct, but before they knock you out the next time, make sure..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..I believe Social Security is a promise made to hard working Americans a promise that must be kept. We need to improve our economy to get folks back to work and paying into the program so our children and grandchildren have access to the same social safety net. I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to keep these promises made to seniors and it starts by passing H.R. 973..low - income Medicare beneficiaries whose Part B is paid for by state Medicaid programs, and,.The SSA and the AARP say, however, the Notch affects only those born during the five-year period of 1917 through 192Those born during that period were covered by a special transitional benefit formula, the purpose of which was to provide a 5-year phase-in for the new 1977 benefit formula..Those who testified at Wednesday's hearing made several practical recommendations to those on the Subcommittee. Ms. Zahm told lawmakers that administrative law judges would work more effectively with additional support staff. She said: "Give my judges a clerk and two attorneys and we can go to town [on the DI backlog]." Other witnesses suggested common-sense solutions like eliminating arbitrary deadlines that cause confusion for claimants who are not represented by attorneys that would make the application process more straight-forward. Several witnesses also requested more adequate funding for the Social Security Administration. Ms. Disman told the Subcommittee members, "You could certainly say that with more funding we could do more.".New IRS medical expense rules for people age 65 and over reduce the amount of medical expenses you can deduct for the 2017 tax year. In 2017, you or - you and your spouse - can deduct the amount of unreimbursed allowable medical expenses that is more than 10% of your adjusted gross income. Last year people over the age of 65 were allowed to deduct medical expenses that were over 7.5% of the AGI..This week, The Senior Citizens League's Board of Trustees and legislative team held meetings with several Members of Congress and their top staff to discuss key issues affecting seniors. In addition, one new cosponsor signed on to the CPI-E Act, and negotiations between the House-Senate Conference Committee continued.