News

  • Ask The Advisor September 2019

    "Addressing our fiscal challenges will require many tough choices and policy changes—but switching to the chained CPI represents neither. Such a change offers policy makers the rare opportunity to achieve significant savings spread across the entire budget by making a technical improvement to existing policies. As such, across-the-board adoption of the chained CPI should be at the top of the list for any deficit reduction plan or down payment." .Is the annual amount of coverage capped? Dental plans often cover only a certain amount of dental services, up to a cap such as 0 to ,500 per year. The cost of preventive services such as cleanings and X-rays is generally not subtracted from the maximum, but it's important that you find out. If you think you will be needing pricey services soon, then look for the plan that offers the highest amount of coverage at the lowest cost. .To qualify for Medicare coverage, beneficiaries must be an inpatient for at least 3 days in a row, not counting the day of discharge. What you can do: If admitted to a hospital, it's highly important that you, or your designated caregiver, find out immediately whether you are being admitted to the hospital as an inpatient or an outpatient. Even if you are admitted as an inpatient, the hospital can sometimes switch you to observation (and outpatient) status, but the hospital is required to notify you while you are still a patient. Should this happen to you, ask your caregiver to take steps to have the decision reversed while you are still a patient. … Continued

  • Will Social Security Last As Long As You Do 2

    Despite increased efforts by SSA, Mr. Bagdoyan emphasized the need for better program evaluation. He said: "SSA has taken some steps to establish an organizational culture and structure conducive to fraud risk management in its disability programs … But it has yet to comprehensively assess these risks or develop a strategic approach to ensure its anti-fraud activities effectively mitigate these risks." .Millions of other public servants find themselves in similar situations, often too late to do much about it. To reconcile this inequity, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) enthusiastically supports the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 896 and H.R. 1795), a bill that would repeal both provisions and grant public servants the retirement security they deserve. The bill was introduced by Senator Mark Begich (AK) in the Senate, and by Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13) in the House. So far, it has gained significant traction in both chambers. In the House, it recently reached one hundred co-sponsors, and in the Senate, nearly twenty lawmakers have signed on in support of it. .For updates on the progress of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act or for more information about the Medicare Part D doughnut hole, visit our website at or find us on Facebook and Twitter. … Continued

An Emergency COLA in 2021 Would Prevent Economic Insecurity and An Unprecedented Medicare Part B Premium Increase for Older Americans. .Financial losses in real estate and retirement accounts of the Great Recession of 2008 have left today's retirees and Baby Boomers with far less home equity and assets to draw from in retirement, even though seniors are living longer. Retirements are spanning 25 and even thirty years, but today's seniors are going into retirement with little savings. A recent Harris poll found that 22 percent of retirees age 65 and older say they have none of their retirement savings left. These people are completely dependent on Social Security and other family members. .In a letter of support to Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-8) – the sponsor of H.R. 711 – TSCL's Chairman Ed Cates wrote: "According to a recent study completed by TSCL, Social Security beneficiaries have lost over 20 percent of their purchasing power since 2000. Those who are subject to the WEP have undoubtedly fallen even further behind. It is now more important than ever for Congress to address the inequities that have been created by the WEP, and TSCL believes the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act is a fair and responsible solution." .Now, it turns out, AbbVie is helping to fund ads attacking legislation that would lower prescription drug costs. .This week, one new cosponsor – Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3) – signed on to the SAVE Benefits Act (H.R. 4012), which was recently introduced in the House by Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-9). If signed into law, the bill would give Social Security beneficiaries a 3.9 percent COLA next year instead of the zero COLA they are expected to receive. It would cover the cost of the emergency COLA and extend the solvency of the Trust Funds by closing a loophole that allows corporations to deduct executive bonuses from their taxes. .TSCL is interested in hearing your comments on this issue, and whether you have ever been forced to use mandatory arbitration to resolve a disagreement. If so, did the outcome satisfy you? Please send us an email. .The following Members of Congress, among others, will hold town halls this weekend: Sens. Jim Risch (ID), Pat Roberts (KS), Deb Fischer (NE), Tom Coburn (OK), and Charles Grassley (IA), and Reps. Mark Amodei (NV-2), Lou Barletta (PA-11), Dan Benishek (MI-1), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Tim Huelskamp (KS-1), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Derek Kilmer (WA-6), Mark Meadows (NC-11), Markwayne Mullin (OK-2), Kristi Noem (SD), Todd Rokita (IN-4), Keith Rothfus (PA-12), Rob Woodall (GA-7), Joe Barton (TX-6), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Mike Coffman (CO-6), Jim Gerlach (PA-6), Dennis Heck (WA-10), Beto O'Rourke (TX-16), and Mark Takano (CA-41). .Let a call go to voicemail if you do not recognize a phone number, as scammers rarely leave messages. .According to TSCL estimates, benefits are now 13% lower this year than if inflation had remained the more typical 3% for retirees who have been receiving Social Security since 2009 when the low COLAs started. A Social Security benefit of ,000 in 2009 is about 2 per month lower today than if COLA had been the more typical 3%, with a total loss of about ,697 in Social Security benefit growth over the past seven years. Over the same period, however, actual senior costs have continued to climb. Some 72% of retirees who participated in TSCL's 2016 Senior Survey reported that their monthly expenses had gone up by more than in 2015, despite the lack of growth in inflation.