Archive for October, 2009
Part D Negotiation Will Save Billions
Thursday, October 29th, 2009The House’s proposed health care reform bill (a merged version of three earlier House bills) has been unveiled today. Newsweek’s The Gaggle blog has an early review of the main provisions: The change that will perhaps have the most impact on Americans is the expansion of Medicaid. Under Pelosi’s bill, anyone earning up to 150 percent of [...]
Retirement & Recession…Can’t Have One Because of the Other?
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009Two new reports out this week put the recession’s effects on seniors into perspective. The National Retirement Risk Index shows that a majority of American households are at high risk of not having enough money in retirement. The 51% finding is the highest at-risk percentage since the index’ creation in 2006. The report concludes: “Ensuring [...]
Pitting Young Vs Old—It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
Friday, October 16th, 2009For too long, some in Washington have been waging generational warfare as a way to persuade young people we can’t afford America’s social safety net. Those who have been fighting to gut programs like Social Security and Medicare have turned their attention to America’s 20 and 30-year-olds in a bid to convince this generation that [...]
It’s Official…Zero Social Security COLA Next Year
Thursday, October 15th, 2009As expected, the Social Security Administration announced a zero cost of living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries in 2010. This is from the SSA’s news release : “With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010. This [...]
$250 Payment Softens the Zero COLA Blow
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009“Kudos to President Obama for listening to the concerns of National Committee members and millions of seniors across the country who are worried about the prospect of no Social Security cost of living adjustment next year. The White House clearly understands how devastating the rising costs of health care and the loss of retirement savings [...]
Social Security & Medicare…So Much More than Line Items in a Budget
Thursday, October 8th, 2009Just ask Esther Lenette or Gerry Johnston. They came to Capitol Hill recently to offer some straight talk to members of Congress and the media about the vital roles Social Security and Medicare fill for retirees especially during this economic recession. Esther is 91 years old; she still drives and lives independently in Montgomery County, [...]
SENIORS URGE CONGRESS TO PASS EMERGENCY COLA BILL
Friday, October 2nd, 2009For millions of American seniors, Social Security has been the one stable source of income they can count on during this economic recession. That’s why news that next year could be the first time beneficiaries won’t receive a cost of living adjustment since it was created in 1975 is especially troubling. There are several bills [...]
From Medi-scare back to Medicare?
Thursday, October 1st, 2009Maybe Halloween just came a few months early… As October begins, it appears the health care reform debate may finally include more than just scary ghost stories and town hells. The truth about health care reform plans, and especially their impact on seniors, is finally breaking through. Seniors’ advocates, including our President, Barbara Kennelly, gathered [...]