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  • Legal Loophole Allows Benefits Based On Illegal Work

    "That combination elevates the risk of disruptions to care, and unexpected, uncovered costs — two problems that could plague seniors shifted to new managed-care plans," Hyland says. Most states are expected to "passively enroll" beneficiaries into the plans requiring beneficiaries to take the initiative to opt out. "It is too early to know what type of choices those wishing to opt out will have," Hyland notes. "Without a strong notification and education process, many of the affected dual eligibles may not be aware, or understand, that they have new health coverage, " he says. "A new health plan can mean a change of doctor if their former providers don't participate," Hyland explains. .However, support in the House has gone to two bills of the bills, both of which moved forward this week: HR 5826, sponsored by Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; and HR 5800, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. While they each deal with the same issue the way they try to solve it is different. .This week, one new cosponsor – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) – signed on to Rep. Grace Meng's (NY-6) Notch Fairness Act (H.R. 314), bringing the total up to twelve. If signed into law, H.R. 314 would provide modest compensation to victims of the Social Security Notch, or those who were born between 1917 and 1926. … Continued

  • Medicaremedicaid Dual Eligibles May Be In For Health Plan Change

    Action on Capitol Hill slowed down this week as Members of Congress returned to their home states and districts for the week-long holiday recess. Meanwhile, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) announced its support for Medicare fraud prevention legislation, and one key bill gained a new cosponsor. .Currently, when hold harmless is triggered on a nationwide scale there is no provision of law to finance the unpaid portion of Medicare Part B premium increases. Instead, the entire burden of Part B costs is spread over a much smaller number of individuals, which is the 30 percent of Medicare Part B enrollees who are not protected by the hold harmless provision. This has led to significant spikes in Medicare Part B premiums during the hold harmless years, and in 2018 when a COLA finally became payable, to steep jumps in premiums for those whose Medicare Part B premiums were held lower in 2016 and 2017. .2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, like the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or … Continued

To cover the cost of CPI-E Act's adoption and to improve the solvency of the Social Security program, The Senior Citizens League supports an increase in the payroll tax cap. Nearly 75 percent of our supporters agree that the wealthiest Americans must begin contributing to the program more fairly, based on the results of our 2018 Senior Survey. Several bills now before Congress would increase or eliminate the payroll tax cap, and The Senior Citizens League will continue to advocate for their passage tirelessly in the months ahead. .The House-Senate conference committee reached a deal this week to extend the payroll tax break and unemployment benefits, and prevent a 27% pay cut to Medicare physicians. The agreement came after months of debate and only after Republicans dropped their requirement that the payroll tax extension be offset by spending cuts. .The report found similar price disparities in expensive specialty drugs that treat complicated conditions like cancer. .Most Americans contribute 6.2 percent of every paycheck to Social Security, but due to the taxable maximum wage cap, people earning more than 8,500 pay nothing over that amount. Do you support increasing or eliminating the taxable maximum wage limit to make the program more solvent? .So, which one should you take? .The Senate-passed bill includes a repeal of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, which experts predict will result in a loss of health insurance coverage for 4 million individuals, many of whom are older Americans who are not yet eligible for Medicare. Those who remain insured through the individual market are expected to see premium increases of 10 percent or more – a hike that would make health insurance unaffordable for many. Most House Republicans have said they support a repeal of the mandate, and it is expected to be included in the final version of the bill. .The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act (S. 64), also introduced by Senators Grassley and Klobuchar, would prohibit anti-competitive pay-for-delay deals that keep much cheaper generic and biosimilar medicines off the market. .'It´s not clear why the administration hasn't made a bigger push to line up votes to get a bill through the Senate and a deal with Congress, given strong public support to lower drug costs,' said Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. .On Thursday, a group of four Senators – Rand Paul (KY), Mike Lee (UT), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Jim DeMint (SC) – unveiled a major new plan to transition Medicare enrollees into the same health care program offered to employees of the federal government, including Members of Congress. According to the group, the plan will "provide Medicare patients with the best health care in America and will forever protect seniors' interests by aligning them with self-interested politicians."