Could the Social Security COLA Be More Fairly Adjusted to Provide a Fixed Annual Dollar Amount?.For seniors - many of whom are on fixed incomes - these skyrocketing prices are unsustainable. Astronomical drug prices are forcing seniors to make daily choices between the medication they need to stay healthy and other necessities such as food, transportation, and housing costs. This is unacceptable..Getting the COVID-19 vaccine was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. It was emotional for a lot of people who were there. I cried when I got both of my shots - not because it hurt, but from the overwhelming sense of relief, joy and gratitude. "Mo," the chief of our local Emergency Medical Services who gave me my second dose, teared up too. He said he was relieved for the opportunity to save lives "this way" rather than making so many grim ambulance calls..Because Medicare Advantage plans receive a capped monthly reimbursement for each beneficiary, TSCL is concerned that there is a potential financial incentive for Medicare Advantage plans to inappropriately deny some services or prescriptions in an attempt to increase their profits. Denial of medically necessary care and prescriptions can worsen your health, as well as leading to high out-of-pocket costs, financial burdens, and debt..Questions To Ask At Your Next Town Hall.It's not perfect - we still have a year to go before implementation starts. However, starting in 2022, consumers will no longer receive surprise or "balance bills" when they are unknowingly treated by out-of-network providers. Patients will pay only the deductible and copayment amounts they ordinarily would under the in-network terms of their insurance plans. Medical providers will not be allowed to hold patients responsible for difference between the amount they get and the higher fees they would like to charge. Instead providers will have to work that out with insurers..In January the President had said he would "take a look" at cutting entitlement spending, which is Washington talk for cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. However, the next day after the interview he backed off his statement and tweeted that he would save Social Security..Congress is now in recess and is not scheduled to start again until April 20. Of course, that could change, depending on the situation with the spread of the virus..As inflation continues to steeply increase prices, older consumers are reporting that food has been the fastest growing category of their household budgets so far this year, according to a new survey by The Senior Citizens League. The same survey also found that nearly one out of five survey respondents, 19 percent, say they have visited a food pantry or applied for food stamps since the beginning of this year," says Mary Johnson, Social Security policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League.

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TSCL is troubled to learn that earlier this week the President tweeted that a short-term payroll tax cut should be considered, fueling a conversation around the potential for a temporary stimulus package..The confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner marks a major milestone for CMS, and like those Senators who voted in her favor, TSCL is hopeful that her leadership will provide the Medicare program with increased stability.."Nearly half of beneficiaries said they avoided care because they didn't want to risk being in a medical facility, while 35% said they didn't want to leave their home. And 23% reported feeling more lonely or sad." … Continued

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When the COLA does not accurately or adequately reflect the costs that retired and disabled people actually have, the buying power of Social Security benefits erodes over time. A study by TSCL has found that Social Security benefits have lost 30 percent of their buying power since 2000..I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car..Compounding the problem, it's also common for people close to retirement to underestimate medical expenses. Four-out-of-ten participants in the Nationwide survey did not expect to spend any of their Social Security income on healthcare. The Social Security Administration, however, automatically deducts the Medicare Part B premium, which is 4.00 per month in 2018, from Social Security benefits. Medicare Part B premiums have been the fastest rising retiree cost over the past 18 years. … Continued

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