Q: My prescription drug plan denied coverage on a medication to control a severe chronic health problem. Over the years I’ve tried other treatments but they are either ineffective, or had dangerous side effects, and I ha ...
Category: Issues
Odds Are Growing For Zero COLA In 2016
The plunge in gasoline prices, in recent months, sent the consumer price index (CPI) into a nose-dive. That deflation is expected to make a big dent in the Social Security income of 56 million people next year, according ...
How Social Security Can Be Strengthened Without Cutting Benefits
In the debate over Social Security’s funding, much of the debate has focused on benefit cuts. A recent survey by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), however, shows that benefit cuts aren’t supported by a lar ...
Two Major Ways Obama Immigration Action Could Impact Federal Benefit Programs
A U.S. federal judge has temporarily blocked President Obama’s immigration program that defers deportation for almost 5 million illegal immigrants. Responding to a lawsuit filed by 26 states, the judge did not rule on th ...
Dear Patient, In Medicare’s Effort To Improve Quality, The Doctor Won’t See You Now
By Mary Johnson The Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a bold new model to save money and improve healthcare quality by changing the way the government pays doctors. The Administration ...
Benefit Bulletin: May 2015
Obama’s Medicare Proposals — What Obama Giveth, Obama Taketh Away President Obama’s fiscal 2016 budget contains proposals that would cut Medicare spending by $423 billion over the next ten years. The cuts would come o ...
Ask The Advisor: May 2015
Would Selling A Home Affect Our Social Security? Q: My wife is 65 and I’m 66. Both of us have started Social Security. We have an opportunity to sell our home, and would realize about $180,000 gain. Would this affect ...
Social Security & Medicare Questions: May 2015
Q: How do I enroll in Medicare if I’m not getting Social Security benefits? I turn 65, next month (June). I’m still working, but I don’t receive health benefits through my employer. I’ve been visiting the doctor at my lo ...
Social Security & Medicare Questions: March 2015
Q: My new rheumatoid arthritis prescription is on the highest tier of my drug plan. Before insurance, it costs about $3,322 for 2 injections that I take every month. I just learned that instead of a co-pay like I have wi ...
Legislative Update: March 2015
Will Budget Negotiators Propose Cutting COLAs Again? Jessie Gibbons, Legislative Assistant With the Social Security Disability Insurance trust fund set to become insolvent by the end of next year, The Senior Citize ...
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