Most seniors and their family members feel stymied by trying to figure out which plan would be the best choice. You may also worry that pre-existing health conditions make it difficult to change plans. That's not the case but either way, you will benefit from discussing your situation with a Medicare benefits counselor, not an insurance agent. Free, unbiased counseling is available through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program which operates in almost every area of the country. Local Area Agencies on Aging can refer you to counselors who help you learn about and understand your health plan choices, and to make a switch..The Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustment is likely to be the first target for cuts. Most deficit plans in recent years propose tying the annual inflation boost to a more slowly - growing consumer price index known as the chained CPI. The new tax legislation, in fact, adopts the chained CPI to adjust tax brackets and the new expanded standard deduction. That will mean the standard deduction will grow more slowly than before and that people will wind up in higher tax brackets, or a greater portion of their income will be subject to tax, more quickly than before. For retirees, the chained CPI would mean lower COLAs, as well - if Congress extends the change to Social Security..Following the vote, Congressman Phil Roe the bill's sponsor said: "After practicing medicine for more than 30 years, I can tell you that no two patients are the same; that different approaches are required for different needs. IPAB is blind to this fact and will ration seniors' access to care through one-size-fits-all payment policies. We can do better, and it's time to go back to the drawing board.".In addition, one new cosponsor Rep. Corrine Brown signed on to the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act. The cosponsor total is now up to one hundred and forty-four. 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. TSCL believes the current policy is unfair, and we were glad to see support grow for H.R. 1179 this week..According to the three Senators, under current law, the administration has the authority to allow pharmacists and wholesale retailers to import prescription drugs from Canada, where medicines are often half the price. The administration also has the power to issue an executive order that would allow individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada for their own personal use..Ever since I was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1970, I have dedicated myself to ensuring the financial security of the Social Security program. At times, I had to speak out against Presidents of both parties who proposed changes in the system that would cut or eliminate Social Security COLAs or even replace the program with private Social Security savings accounts.."The Senior Citizens League strongly opposes this effort to overturn Americans' access to health care," Johnson asserts.."Americans' Financial Worries Edge Up In 2016," Gallup, April 201"You Might Need Nearly 0,000 To Pay Health-Care Costs In Retirement," Robert Powell, Market Watch, February 6, 2017..To qualify for a divorced spouse survivor's benefit, you must have been married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years, and you did not remarry until you were past the age of 60. After age 60, your remarriage does not affect eligibility for ex-spouse survivor's benefits. Any benefit that you receive would not affect the benefit for other survivors who are receiving benefits based on the record of your ex-spouse.
