Racial equity and health policy perspective pulling it together a recovery raises expectations

Increase Social Security's minimum benefit so that workers who pay into Social Security for 30 years can retire at 62 or later and have benefits above the federal poverty line..Failing To Lift The Debt Limit Would Put Social Security Checks On Hold.This week, lawmakers in the Senate held several failed votes on bills that would have repealed and replaced parts of the Affordable Care Act. In addition, two key bills that would improve Social Security benefits gained support in the House..Subcommittee Discusses Social Security Windfall.In addition, one new cosponsor Reps. Zoe Lofgren signed on to the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. The cosponsor total is now up to one hundred and forty-eight. If signed into law, H.R. 1179 would amend current Medicare policy to count hospital stays under "observation status" towards the three-day requirement for skilled nursing care. Currently, those under "observation status" don't qualify for coverage of the benefit, and they are often hit with large, unexpected bills after receiving necessary medical care..The statement that "nearly two-thirds of undocumented immigrants affected by the president's executive action don't pay taxes today" doesn't appear to be supported by the government's own data, and is contradicted by statements from Social Security's own Chief Actuary Stephen Goss. Goss was quoted in The New York Times as saying that about "three-quarters of other-than-legal immigrants" already pay payroll taxes. And the Social Security Administration receives on average about 9 million copies of suspicious wage and payroll tax reports a year in which the Social Security number and name don't match those on Social Security records. This situation frequently occurs when undocumented immigrants illegally work under invalid or fraudulent Social Security numbers. But if that's the case, awarding work authorization and Social Security numbers now would make up to 5 million individuals eligible to claim permanent Social Security and Medicare benefits based on earnings under those illegitimate wage reports..After more than a decade of failed attempts to repeal and replace the sustainable growth rate the flawed formula that sets payment rates for doctors who treat Medicare patients Congress has finally succeeded in passing legislation to do away with it once and for all. In April, lawmakers in both the House and the Senate adopted a bipartisan bill that will permanently repeal the SGR, provide doctors with modest 0.5 percent payment updates over the next five years, and incentivize payment models that reward the coordination of medical care..For people with incomes less than ,000, the monthly Medicare Part B premium in 2017 is 4, and Medicare Trustees expect it to stay at that amount in 201But the vast majority of retirees are paying a Part B premium that's far lower than 4 - about 0 or less - due to a special provision of law that protects Social Security benefits from reduction when Medicare Part B premiums rise more than the COLA raises benefits..lucky enough to be in the middle of the fall Part D Open Enrollment period,

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TSCL believes modestly higher retirement benefits are needed by a majority of people at or nearing retirement. A number of national studies indicate that millions of older Americans are entering retirement without the financial resources to cover retirements that may stretch 30 years or more. A 2015 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office that says about one - half of households 55 and older have no retirement savings, and many of those that do run the risk of falling short of income..The so-called "cromnibus," as many on Capitol Hill are calling it, seems to be a compromise that most lawmakers will be able to accept. However, some have been outspoken about their opposition since it does not include a policy rider that would explicitly prohibit the funding of the President's executive orders. Sen. Ted Cruz, stated this week: "Congress should stand up and use the power of the purse to say we will fund the operation of the government but we will not allocate taxpayer dollars to lawless and illegal amnesty."."But there's still time for Congress to pass legislation to provide an emergency COLA," says Cates. TSCL strongly supports legislation that would provide 70 million Americans with a one-time emergency COLA payment of 3.9%. The Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act was introduced last fall by Senator Elizabeth Warren, and a companion bill was introduced in the House by Representative Tammy Duckworth. … Continued

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Senator Bernie Sanders introduced S. 99 on January 10, 201It has since been referred to the Committee on Finance..Seniors know how important Medicare is to their well-being, both health-wise and financially. But many doctors have long complained that Medicare does not pay them enough. And until the coronavirus came along, cuts in the reimbursement rates paid to doctors were scheduled to take place..Here's how one TSCL-backed proposal the Social Security 2100 Act would restore the program's solvency through the next century while strengthening benefits for older Americans. … Continued

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