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The executive order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop proposals that would expand plan options, encourage innovation in plan designs and payment models, and improve the enrollment process to make it easier to choose plans. It includes a variety of proposals that include combating waste, fraud and abuse in the program, and improving access to new treatments and medical devices..Two new cosponsors Senator Cory Booker and Senator Deb Fischer signed on to the bipartisan CREATES Act, bringing the total up to thirty in the Senate. If adopted, the bill would increase competition in the prescription drug industry by encouraging generic and biosimilar drug manufacturers to introduce their products to the market more quickly..years, seniors participating in TSCL surveys say they are putting off visits to."Is There A Subprime Car Loan Bubble?" Bob Sullivan, Credit.com, March 23, 2015..Rep. Elijah Cummings introduced H.R. 3513 on September 10, 201It has since been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and to the Committee on Ways and Means..I decide to water my flowerpots..Don't expect much growth in Social Security benefits next year. According to consumer price index data, Social Security and other adjusted benefit payments will probably stay pretty flat. With the Social Security Administration getting ready to announce the 2014 cost-of-living-adjustment on October 16th, the COLA looks like it will be in the vicinity of 1.7%. That would raise average monthly benefits of ,157 by just .70..Have health insurance coverage. If you are under the age of 65 and didn't have health insurance for some or part of 2014 you may have to pay a tax penalty. For people who don't have Medicare or Medicaid, the penalty for not having coverage is the greater of 1% of your annual income, or The penalty is rising in 2015 to the greater of 2% or 5 per person.." 'If it comes to getting my family members vaccinated, and all that's available is J&J or Novavax, I'd tell them to take it,' said Robert Hancock, president of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians."

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If signed into law, the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act would amend the Social Security Act with regard to the annual cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits. Currently, the COLA is based upon the spending patterns of young, urban workers using the CPI for Urban Wage Earners. This legislation would calculate the COLA based on the spending patterns of seniors by using the CPI-E..Co-pays and coinsurance: This refers to the portion of the cost of services that you pay out-of-pocket. Co-pays are a fixed amount that you will pay for each service. For example, in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be billed a co-pay of to see a primary care physician and to see a specialist. On the other hand, coinsurance is a variable amount. It is a percentage of the cost of the service. Theoretically if the total cost of the service is ,000 and you pay 20% coinsurance, your cost could be about 0. Under Medicare Advantage your health plan negotiates the cost of service, thus you would want to call your plan to get an idea what your total out-of-pocket costs would be, and whether your provider is a preferred provider. Under most Medigap policies, the Part B co-insurance cost is covered in large part, but there still could be some "excess charges" that you pay out of pocket..Social Security Fairness Act Re-Introduced … Continued

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Raising the Retirement Age: People are living longer now, and gradually raising the retirement age would bring Social Security benefits in line with this new reality. This would close between 15 and 21 percent of the program's long-term shortfall. We would not support any proposal that would cut the benefits of today's beneficiaries..Romney's bill would not tackle changes to the programs directly but would require Congress to set up "rescue" committees. The committees would be tasked with evaluating proposals and writing legislation to extend the solvency of the Trust Funds - which include the Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability trust funds and Medicare hospital insurance. At least two members of each party would be required to work on the legislation, and any qualifying bills that are written, would get expedited consideration in both the House and the Senate..Medicare beneficiaries would still be on the hook for the ,000 that would need to be spent out-of-pocket before the catastrophic coverage even starts. For the average beneficiary, that could take one-third or more of one's entire Social Security income for the year. … Continued