State Legislatures Magazine First Branch News Legislative Headlines Week Of Oct 4 2021 Magazine2021According to the lobbying arm of the major drug companies, in 2018, nearly half of the money spent on brand medicines went to some business other than the research companies that discover and manufacture medicines..Under traditional Medicare with Medigap, you have greater freedom to select providers and to travel and still get coverage. Medigap is the better choice for people who divide their time between homes in two different states, or who like to travel outside the U.S. Several Medigap plans cover foreign travel emergencies. On the other hand under many Medicare Advantage plans, you would need to follow your plan rules to get in-network care and would be more limited to specific geographic areas. If you join a Medicare HMO and then have a medical emergency in other part of the country where your plan does not operate you would foot 100% of the medical bill..This week, Senator John McCain introduced the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act, which would allow individuals to import prescription drugs from approved pharmacies in Canada. Upon introducing the bill, Senator McCain stated: "This legislation would allow individuals to safely import prescription drugs into the United States from our neighbors to the north, spur much-needed competition in the pharmaceutical market, and save individual Americans up to hundreds of dollars a year." TSCL supports S. 122 enthusiastically, and we look forward to helping build support for it this year. … Continued
Health Conditions And Treatments Eat Healthy Side Dishes Sweet Tangy Brussels SproutsMembers of the Maryland Congressional delegation recently sent a letter to the Postmaster General complaining of the poor service. They stated in part:.Let's say that you work for an employer with more than 20 employees. Then you and your wife may delay enrollment in Medicare, if you continue to work, and as long as you're still covered by the group health plan. If your employment or coverage ends, however, then you and your wife have 8 months to enroll in Medicare. COBRA and retiree health plans don't count as coverage based on current employment..Instead of the sweeping legislation supported by the House Democratic leadership they have indicated supported for more modest measures that already have some Republican support. Those include things like capping Medicare enrollees' out-of-pocket drug costs. … Continued