President Takes on Big Pharma, Nursing Homes in SOTU speech
In his first State of the Union speech, President Biden addressed the ever-rising prescription drug prices that continue to plague Americans --- especially seniors.
Medicare To Cover At-Home COVID Test Kits
Seniors on Medicare soon won't have to pay for over-the-counter COVID test kits, thanks to a rule change from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS announced Wednesday that Medicare will begin covering the cost of home kits sold at pharmacies and other retailers starting in early spring.
Seniors’ Champions in Washington State Continue to Lead the Way on Long-Term Care, Despite Roadblocks
In 2019, the state of Washington plunged headlong into the treacherous waters of public long-term care insurance with WA Cares – the first comprehensive program of its kind in the country. WA Cares was born out of the realization that most seniors will need some form of long term-care at some point in their lives.
Pending Aduhelm Coverage Decision Could Pave the Way for Lower Medicare Premiums
Medicare Part B beneficiaries have seen their monthly premiums jump to from $148.50 to $170.10 this year – one of the biggest increases in recent history. Many seniors on fixed incomes who welcomed this year’s 5.9% Social Security COLA were dismayed to find that $21 of it will be consumed by the Medicare premium bump. But this week brought some potentially encouraging news.
Trump Plan to Privatize Medicare Is Alive and Well
Seniors and their loved ones may be alarmed to learn that there is an insidious, but largely unpublicized effort underway to gradually privatize Medicare. According to recent reporting, some traditional Medicare patients are now being placed in for-profit managed care plans without even knowing, thanks to a Trump administration policy that is still in effect.
President Biden Should Roll Back Medicare Premium Hike
The National Committee is urging President Biden to mitigate the announced $21 monthly increase in Medicare Part B premiums. President and CEO Max Richtman sent a letter to the White House this week asking President Biden to intervene before the premium hike takes effect in 2022.
House Passage of Build Back Better is Something For Seniors To Be Thankful For
The House of Representatives passed President Biden’s landmark Build Back Better plan this morning --- a victory achieved by Democrats to benefit American seniors. The House-enacted legislation represents the biggest expansion of the social safety net for older Americans and their families in five decades.
Dems Should Unite Around Medicare Expansion, RX Drug Price Negotiation
We and other seniors' advocates cheered President Biden's Build Back Better plan, which called for adding dental, vision, and hearing coverage to Medicare. That plan is having a difficult birth in Congress, as moderate and Progressive Democrats wrangle over the plan's size and scope.
What’s Happening with Budget Reconciliation Legislation Affecting Seniors?
As Democrats attempt to unite around a final budget reconciliation package – otherwise known as President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan – seniors advocates are keeping a close eye on key provisions affecting older Americans.
Holdout House Dems Should Side with the People, Not Big Pharma
Nearly 90% of the American public wants Medicare to be able to negotiate drug prices with Big Pharma – including a majority of Republicans. Unfortunately, the will of the people is being thwarted not only by Republicans in Congress, who refuse to support Medicare price negotiation, but holdout ‘moderate’ Democrats.