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The BCRA, the "repeal-and-replace" bill that lawmakers have been working on for several weeks, was defeated on Tuesday night with a vote of 43 5The ORRA, the "repeal-and-delay" bill, was defeated with a vote of 45 55 on Wednesday afternoon. And the "skinny repeal" bill which would have repealed a few of the ACA's most controversial provisions was defeated early Friday morning with a vote of 49 51, just two hours after the text of the bill was revealed. The critical "no" votes came from three Republican Senators: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and John McCain..The problem of how our government calculates price inflation affects more than just Social Security benefits. The consumer price index is also used to adjust many federal programs and other aspects of our laws such as the federal poverty limits and the federal tax code. By growing more slowly, fewer people qualify for safety net programs, or the federal tax code exemptions become less generous over time, and taxpayers pay more in taxes..People age 65 and older who have not started Social Security benefits, and who pay by check. Most of this group includes people who are still working or those who may recently have lost jobs but not yet started Social Security benefits..While you can count medical bills for you, your spouse and dependents listed on your tax return, you may also be able to count some medical expenses that you paid for a family member who's not considered a dependent for tax purposes. This is the sort of question you should discuss with a tax professional..housemate with whom you can share expenses. Some couples living in older homes.The fraudsters enlist unscrupulous doctors to approve the test and the doctor receives a kick back from the recruiting company for each prescription. Medicare receives a bill that can range from ,000 to ,000. Victims have later reported that they did not even know the doctor who prescribed the test. Law officials warn that health fairs, senior centers and even church events are magnets for the scam, where recruiters take cheek swabs for genetic testing and collect Medicare numbers..Tax Planning? Medical Expense Deduction Becomes Less Generous in 2019.A growing number of Medicare beneficiaries are choosing to receive their coverage through private Medicare Advantage plans, rather than traditional Medicare with a Medigap supplement and Part D plan. The choice requires careful evaluation of costs and an understanding of how the prospective Medicare Advantage works, because once you give up your Medigap plan, you probably won't be able to get another one, or if you do, you could be charged significantly more. No matter what you decide, you will still be required to pay the Part B premium..Full Report including study methodology.