Womens Health Policy State Indicator Ultrasound RequirementsThis week, lawmakers in the House passed legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through September and address President Obama's recent immigration orders. In addition, The Senior Citizens League announced its support for two new pieces of legislation..TSCL's report entitled "The Cost of Illegal Earnings Under Totalization With Mexico" examines three ways illegal Mexican workers could become entitled to benefits under an agreement with Mexico. The report concludes, "responsible, comprehensive cost estimates of the totalization agreement with Mexico simply cannot afford to ignore the very large and significant cost of benefits based on illegal, unauthorized work. Doing so results in highly misleading and incomplete estimates that would jeopardize the future solvency of Social Security, leading to benefit cuts and higher taxes.".Representatives Donna E. Shalala, Phil Roe, M.D., Ann McLane Kuster, and Larry Bucshon M.D. have introduced legislation to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for vaccines to everyone under Medicare. Currently, Medicare vaccine coverage is split between Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. Seniors can access vaccines covered under Part B - such as flu, pneumonia and Hepatitis - with no out-of-pocket costs. However, under Part D, vaccines such as shingles and pertussis often include a cost to beneficiaries. … Continued
Legislatures C19This week, two congressional committees held hearings on issues affecting older Americans, and The Senior Citizens League saw support grow for four key bills in the House and Senate..Americans everywhere agree: Social Security is not an entitlement; it is a benefit that seniors earn through decades of work. According to the Social Security Administration, approximately 65 million Americans received Social Security benefits in 2020 and of those 65 million, 72 percent were retired workers and dependents..In the debate over Social Security's funding, much of the debate has focused on benefit cuts. A recent survey by the National Academy of Social Insurance, however, shows that benefit cuts aren't supported by a large majority of survey participants. Those who participated in the survey agreed on a package of changes to strengthen Social Security that doesn't cut benefits. … Continued