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Rep. Rodney Davis.Nonetheless, TSCL will keep a close eye on the bill's movement in the coming weeks, since it could have a significant impact on the Social Security and Medicare programs. For updates, visit the Legislative News section of our website..This time, with large numbers of hospitals straining to care for COVID-19 patients, cutting payments to hospitals and increasing revenues is likely to be far more difficult. Hospitals across the country say they have been pushed to their financial limit. And simply raising payroll tax rates may not provide enough of a revenue in the short term if unemployment remains at high levels longer than anticipated. Payroll taxes cannot be collected from workers who are unemployed..Three Programs That Help Seniors With Medicare Costs.Even if you aren't ready to sell your home, but just doing some planning for the future, homes maintain their highest value with careful regular maintenance and de-cluttering. It's not too early to start thinking ahead. To learn more, see: Selling Your House, Nolo's Essential Guide, by Iiona Bray, J.D..With unemployment still 5.4%, and less payroll tax revenue to finance the benefits of swelling Social Security rolls, how is the program's financing faring during our 2021 economic recovery? The Social Security Trustees are expected to soon release a much-anticipated annual report that gives us our first real glimpse of how the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affected Social Security's retirement, survivors and disability programs in 2020..That said, roughly 30 percent of beneficiaries are not protected by the provision, and they can be subject to substantial spikes in the Part B premiums. In the past, the costs of the unpaid portion of Medicare Part B premiums of those who were protected by hold harmless were shifted to those who were not protected by the provision. Because fewer people were covering the costs Medicare Part B premiums, increases were significantly higher than usual..CPI Data Through August 2012, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 14, 201Social Security Monthly Statistical Snapshot, Social Security Administration, July, 2012..Want to join the effort for an Emergency COLA? Sign a petition today!

Prevent Indoor Tanning Increases Risk Of Melanoma By A Whopping 75 Percent

To read the full statement from Chairman Cates on Thursday's Supreme Court decision, click HERE..Accelerate or postpone discretionary medical expenses when feasible. The new health law reduced the amount of unreimbursed medical expenses that you can claim when itemizing the deductions. Taxpayers under the age of 65 can claim deductions for expenses that exceed 10 percent of their adjusted gross income. If you are age 65 and older you may still deduct total medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross temporarily but that ends in 201If your expenses are right on the borderline, you may want to take care of any pending medical services and appointments now, so you can boost your deduction for 201If your expenses were too low to claim the medical expense deduction for 2014, consider postponing discretionary services a few weeks into the New Year..At a time when our country faces a real and growing retirement crisis, it is more important than ever that we take steps to protect and expand Social Security. Yet today, Social Security remains under attack. Republicans in Washington are doing everything they can to privatize and cut benefits for millions of seniors who rely on Social Security to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. … Continued

Medicare Advantage 2021 Spotlight First Look

The Senior Citizens League is pleased that Congress has successfully negotiated a repeal of the SGR, since the flawed formula has not worked as intended for twelve years. It has called for physician pay cuts some as steep as 30 percent more than seventeen times, threatening access to quality medical care for beneficiaries. We are hopeful that the new payment system will bring increased stability to the Medicare program..Many Members of Congress will schedule town halls throughout the month of August, giving voters the opportunity to voice their opinions..According to Michael Astrue, the Commissioner of Social Security, the report "contains troubling, but not unexpected, projections about Social Security's finances." Income including interest to the combined OASDI Trust Funds totaled 5 billion in 2011, while total expenditures amounted to 6 billion. Non-interest income fell below program costs, however, and should continue to do so through the remainder of the 75-year period. The Trustees estimated that 158 million people paid Social Security payroll taxes in 2011, while approximately 55 million collected Social Security benefits. … Continued