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Senator David Vitter also reintroduced the Notch Fairness Act in the Senate. The Notch Fairness Act is legislation that would provide Notch Babies born 1917 through 1926, or widows who receive benefits based on their account, a choice of a lump sum of ,000 payable in four annual installments of ,250 or an improved monthly benefit..According to an article last week in StatNews, a newsletter that covers health and medical issues, the answer seems to be "whichever one is available to you first.".Top 10 Fastest Growing Costs of Older Americans Since 2000."Social Security Administration Actuarial Score," HR. 1314, Stephen Goss, Social Security Administration Office of the Actuary, October 27, 201"Time To Close A Social Security Loophole?" Alicia H. Munnell, Market Watch, March 19, 2014..But then I think, since I can run down to the post-box when I take out the trash, I may as well pay the bills first..Despite receiving the largest Social Security cost of living adjustment in five years, the majority of retired and disabled beneficiaries will not see any increase in their net Social Security benefits in January, warns The Senior Citizens League. A big jump in Medicare Part B premiums is to blame. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced that the Medicare Part B premium will be 4 for next year. That's the same amount that the Part B premium is today, but tens of millions of Medicare beneficiaries are paying less than that this year. Millions of beneficiaries pay roughly less - and their annual COLA may not be enough to cover the difference..I lost my job a few months ago and at age 64, recently started Social Security retirement benefits. I just found out that I can work and still receive benefits at the same time. Can you tell me how this works? I thought you could lose your Social Security check?.Calling it an "economic imperative," President Obama continues to call for comprehensive immigration reform that would provide a path to legal status for illegal immigrants. A day after the President outlined his plan in a speech on the border with Mexico, immigration reform legislation known as the "DREAM Act" was reintroduced in the Senate..However, the swell of seniors who qualify for Medicare has outpaced the number of doctors available to treat them. Every day, an estimated 10,000 Americans turn 65 and become eligible for the government program, the Census Bureau reported.

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The study examined the increase in costs of 39 key items between 2000 and January 201The items were chosen because they are typical of the costs of most Social Security recipients, and include expenditures like the Medicare Part B premium, that are not measured by the index currently used to calculate the COLA. Of the 39 items analyzed, 25 exceeded the percentage of increase in the COLA over the same period. "This study illustrates why legislation is needed to provide a more fair and adequate COLA," Johnson says. "To put it in perspective, the same 0 worth of groceries that a retiree household could buy in 2000, can only buy worth today," Johnson adds..Third, the Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for Safe Prescribing Act of 2018 gained three new cosponsors in Representative Todd Rokita, Representative Jackie Walorski, and Representative Roger Marshall, bringing the new cosponsor total to six. If signed into law, H.R. 4841 would allow for and standardize electronic prior authorization for Medicare Part D beneficiaries.."House Democrats in the previous Congress, when they enjoyed a larger majority, passed H.R. 3 almost entirely along party lines. The legislation went nowhere in the Senate, which was then controlled by Republicans, and former President Donald Trump opposed the bill. But many Democrats campaigned on the bill last cycle, showcasing it as an example of what the party could achieve if it won full control of Washington." … Continued

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I've read about proposals to "expand" Social Security that would provide somewhat higher benefits and a better cost-of-living adjustment. How can Social Security be expanded when the program is running out of money?.It's clear we need to take action to protect Medicare for future generations and safeguard it against those who want to turn it into a coupon-style voucher system. For over half a century, Medicare has guaranteed older Americans' access to health care, and most seniors don't want to see something so essential endangered or gutted. But here's some good news: There are steps we can take to put Medicare on sure financial footing and build upon it to improve insurance coverage and affordability for older Americans not yet on Medicare..The report looked at five prescription drugs and found that drug companies slightly alter the formulas in those drugs, allowing them to extend their patents on the new formulations, and delay the move to the generic drug marketplace. … Continued