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NRLN WORKS TO PROTECT YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME AND HEALTH CARE SECURITY

The National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) is dedicated to senior Americans over age 50. Two million of us welcome you to our website and urge you to share www.nrln.org in emails, with your Facebook Friends and your Twitter Followers. We provide timely news, important information and tools that enable you to help us lobby Congress for reliable pension and Social Security Income and lower cost Health Care Benefits and Medicare. There are over 50 million of us over age 65 now, our children will join 75 million by 2035, and our great grandkids 100 million by 2060. We need to help each other now and they need us to insure their futures NOW!

The NRLN recently created the American Retirees Education Foundation (AREF) with a mission is to research, educate and inform retirees, future retirees and the general public on how best to protect and promote retirement income security and retiree health care. Donations to AREF are tax deductible. Learn more about AREF, at www.SeniorsAREF.org.

The NRLN regularly informs members by email about important information. If you did not receive an email with the NRLN President’s Forum message or an Action Alert posted on this home page, possibly you mistakenly “unsubscribed” on one of our emails or you have a new email address that is not in the NRLN’s database. You will no longer hear from us unless you “re-subscribe”. To “re-subscribe”, click here.

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PRESIDENT'S  FORUM
And Other Important Messages
Postings from NRLN Facebook Page Are Often Included Here

Retirement Issues Highlighted Fly-In to Washington, DC

The National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) 2018 Fall Fly-In to Washington, DC was opened on the morning of September 10 with a meeting of the NRLN Board of Directors. They received presentations on the NRLN’s Grand Bargain proposal to save Social Security and Medicare and on whitepapers on Medicare Advantage Plans – Privatization’s Trojan Horse and Universal Retirement Accounts (URAs): Enhancing Income Security by Supplementing Social Security.

I presented an update Grand Bargain proposal which the Board had originally approved in June and was communicated in July and August with six articles on www.Facebook.com/NRLN1 and my President’s Forum Articles. I also presented the whitepaper on Congress moving toward privatization of Medicare through premium support for Medicare Advantage plans. Watch for my upcoming articles on this issue that presents a threat to Medicare Advantage participants’ benefits.

Michael Calabrese, NRLN Legislative Adviser who wrote the URAs whitepaper, presented it to the Board.

With the Board’s approvals I briefed all Fly-In attendees Monday afternoon on the Grand Bargain proposal to be lobbied during their appointments on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 11 and 12. The whitepapers were presented to them for only their information at this time.

Also on the lobbying agenda during the nearly 50 Capitol Hill appointments were:

  • Protect Retirees from Pension Plan Benefit Recoupment and Congressman Richard Neal’s Letter to Secretary of the Treasury
  • Pension Plan Risks in Mergers, Acquisitions and Spin-offs: Protecting Retirees from Restructuring and Financial Engineering
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan Mergers: Protecting Vested Pension Benefits from Plan Asset Transfers
  • Proposal for Corporate Bankruptcy Law Reform: Protecting Retiree Benefits in Bankruptcy
  • NRLN Letter to HHS Secretary to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices
    • Request for Representatives and Senators to Send Letter to HHS Secretary Asking for Actions to Make Medicines Affordable

The talking points on the Grand Bargain proposal and pension issues can be read at https://www.nrln.org/talking.exec.sums.html .

Rep. Richard Neal’s letter and my letter to the HHS Secretary are posted at https://www.nrln.org/archives2.html#ltrswash.

Some of the photos taken during or after meetings on Capitol Hill are posted at: https://www.nrln.org/2018flyin/photos.htm.

A more detailed report about the Fly-In will be in the fall edition of the NRLN FOCUS newsletter.

Bill Kadereit, President
National Retiree Legislative Network

report card

NRLN Provides New “Report Card” Feature on Members of Congress

NRLN has introduced a “report card” for each state that shows whether the U.S. Representatives and Senators have supported bills in Congress advocated by the NRLN. Read all about it here.

NRLN Sharing Two Articles with Important Medicare Information

The NRLN is sharing two articles with important Medicare information that were recently published in the AUSWR CO/WY Retiree Guardian and the NWB – U S WEST – Qwest Retiree Association Retiree Guardian. Both Newsletters are published for retirees of CenturyLink, Qwest, U S WEST and their predecessor companies. Click here to access the articles.

READ MEMBERS COMMENTS HERE

NRLN members are saving big with the Free Health Savings Rx Card℠

The NRLN has arranged to offer you a Health Savings Rx Card™, at NO COST, that offers you and your family savings on prescription drugs, plus vision and hearing services and products.Click here to access the Rx Savings Card℠ website.If you do not already have a Health Savings Rx Card℠ you will need to create your personal login and then printout your free card. Savings information for prescription drugs, vision and hearing services and products is available through the links under the Savings Plus tab.

ACTION ALERT



Protect Retirees from Pension Plan Recoupment

When retirees receive their first pension check they trust the amount shown on the check will be what they should receive monthly. Far too often pension plan sponsors later find an error in the pension payment calculation and force retirees to pay back thousands of dollars and suffer a large cut in benefits as well. Click here to email the NRLN’s sample letter to your members of Congress to urge them to support the NRLN’s proposal for a more equitable approach to recouping pension overpayments.

alyson Happenings on the Hill – August 2018

By Alyson Parker, NRLN Executive Director

The House and Senate were out for August recess during most of the month and therefore, there was no movement on any legislation. Members were back home preparing for the upcoming elections. In light of Congress being in recess, Bill Kadereit and I used the time to focus on other industry groups that we share common interests and to see if we can work together on such issues at Medicare, Social Security and reducing prescription drugs prices.

Bill Kadereit came to Washington, DC and we met with Robert Roach, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), and Eva Dominguez, Legislative Representative for ARA. After spending two hours discussing the need to reduce prescription drug prices, Medicare and Social Security, we all agreed it would benefit both groups to work together when our interests align.

We met with the Pension Rights Center on the pension recoupment issue since we are both very active on this issue. We agreed to keep in touch on this issue, but also other pension issues and briefed them on our Grand Bargain proposal to save Social Security and Medicare.

We also met with the AARP on the Grand Bargain proposal for Social Security and Medicare. We exchanged ideas on possible solutions and the political landscape for fixing this crisis facing our nation.

We also reached out to the business community through The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and American Benefits Council on the Grand Bargain proposal. Although it seems that our interests would not align, we pointed out that since companies pay a portion of the payroll tax, it is in their interests to work to solve this problem or they may end up paying even more.

As you know, if you read the summer FOCUS newsletter, many NRLN members are coming to town next week for the NRLN Fly In. The NRLN members will have appointments in Capitol Hill offices and advocate for the Grand Bargain proposal and our pension protection initiatives.

With the November elections approaching quickly, I expect you will see a flurry of legislation brought to the floor for a vote to give members of Congress an achievement to talk about back home. Two that we care about that I expect to see voted on is the provision to require brand name drug manufacturers to provide samples to generics companies so they can test their product and bring it to market and the end of the gag rule which prevents pharmacists from notifying customers if it would be cheaper not use their insurance and pay for a prescription outright. We have lobbied on both of these and although they do not fix the high cost of prescription drugs, these provisions will help.

PHARMA CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONGRESS

money Learn About the Dollars Members of Congress Are Receiving from Pharma How much are your U.S. Representatives and Senators taking as campaign contributions from the Pharmaceutical and Health Products Industry? Could these be a reason why bills to reduce the price of prescription drugs are not being passed? Click here to see data that the NRLN has compiled from OpenSecrets.Org, Center for Responsive Politics. The contributions are for each 2-year election cycle. Note that Representatives run every cycle; Senators every 6 years (3 cycles), one third every 2 years.

IN THE NEWS...

The articles and opinion pieces below are for information and are not necessarily a reflection of the NRLN’s position on issues. The NRLN is nonpartisan and its positions on retirement issues are presented in its Legislative Agenda and white papers that can be accessed from the Legislative Agenda tab.

Congress has a chance to improve insurance options for people with kidney failure and help fund opioid crisis treatment
From LaVarne A. Burton, Hrant Jamgochian & Kevin Longino; The Hill ~ Sep 18, 2018

Opinion: Retirement Is In Peril For Most Working Class Americans, Warns New Report
From Ted Knutson; Forbes ~ Sep 18, 2018

Government health monitoring is causing physicians to leave the medical practice
From Twila Brase; The Hill ~ Sep 18, 2018

Opinion: It's Not Too Soon For Taxes: 4 Moves You Can Make Now
From Mark Avallone; Forbes ~ Sep 18, 2018

The Awful Truth About Expanding Social Security Benefits
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Sep 18, 2018

Industry, Advocacy Groups Sue Administration Over Short-Term Plans They Say Will Lead To Unfair Competition
Via KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 17, 2018

Opinion: Medicare Advantage Plan Proposed Use Of Step Therapy For Part B Drugs
From Joshua Cohen; Forbes ~ Sep 17, 2018

Cigna-Express Scripts merger gets Justice Department approval
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ Sep 17, 2018

CMS proposes rule to streamline Medicare compliance
By Paige Minemyer; FierceHealthcare ~ Sep 17, 2018

New Medicare Advantage Tool To Lower Drug Prices Puts Crimp In Patients’ Choices
By Susan Jaffe; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 17, 2018

Here's Some Potential Good News About Required Minimum Distributions
By Maurie Backman; The Motley Fool ~ Sep 16, 2018

Opinion: Apple’s watch and the future of medical care
From Dr. Marc Siegel; The Hill ~ Sep 16, 2018

Opinion: Obamacare And Big Employer Premium Rate Hikes Below 5%
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Sep 16, 2018

Study: Seniors Should Think Twice Before Reaching For The Aspirin Bottle
By Evie Fordham; The Daily Caller ~ Sep 16, 2018

Opinion: Socialized Medicine — The Orphan Of The New Deal
From Jim Martin; The Daily Caller ~ Sep 15, 2018

Opinion: Health and housing gap for seniors is far larger and more expensive than we think
From Margaret A. Murray; The Hill ~ Sep 14, 2018

IRS grants tax extensions to Hurricane Florence victims
By Jackie Wattles; CNN ~ Sep 15, 2018

Opinion: Replacing the 4% Rule For Retirees
From Jack Guttentag; Forbes ~ Sep 15, 2018

Republicans Nix Trump’s Idea To Require Drug Prices In TV Ads As Lawmakers Wrap Up Work On Spending Package
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 14, 2018

Health groups sue to block Trump expansion of non-ObamaCare plans
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Sep 14, 2018

Projected 2019 Tax Rates, Brackets, Standard Deduction Amounts And More
By Kelly Phillips Erb; Forbes ~ Sep 14, 2018

Opinion: The New 'Expand Social Security' Caucus Says That Social Security Is Insurance. No, It's Not.
From Elizabeth Bauer; Forbes ~ Sep 13, 2018

Opinion: A Big Rise for Your 2019 Social Security Benefits Is Almost a Sure Thing
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ Sep 14, 2018

Legislators Reach Government Funding Agreement Through December 7
By Niels Lesniewski; Roll Call ~ Sep 13, 2018

States are trying to lower drug prices. Here's how their efforts are being thwarted
By Caitlin Burke; FierceHealthcare ~ Sep 13, 2018

House GOP blocks Trump-supported drug pricing provision from spending bill
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Sep 13, 2018

More than 150 Dems launch caucus to expand Social Security benefits
By Emily Birnbaum; The Hill ~ Sep 13, 2018

Democrats unite to expand Social Security
From Nancy Altman & Alex Lawson; The Hill ~ Sep 13, 2018

Opinion: How Taxes And Inflation Do A Number On Your Retirement Earnings
From Larry Light; Forbes ~ Sep 13, 2018

Make your retirement money last when the downturn comes
From Liz Weston; MarketWatch ~ Sep 13, 2018

Opinion: 6 Reasons Why You Need An Estate Plan
From Catherine Schnaubelt; Forbes ~ Sep 13, 2018

Opinion: 7 Surprising Ways Retirement Will Change Your Life. Retirement alters the structure of your days, your friendships and even your marriage.
From Tom Sightings; US News & World Report ~ Sep 13, 2018

Census: Uninsured rate held steady in Trump's first year
By Rachel Roubein; Politico ~ Sep 12, 2018

Poll: Voters of both parties largely support ObamaCare pre-existing condition protections
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Sep 12, 2018

CBO estimates $34 billion price tag for multiemployer legislation, down from $101 billion
By Hazel Bradford; Pensions & Investments ~ Sep 12, 2018

Finding solutions to recover lost pensions
By Elliot Raphaelson; Chicago Tribune ~ Sep 12, 2018

Opinion: 8 Misconceptions About Health Care Costs in Retirement
From Rachel Hartman; US News & World Report ~ Sep 12, 2018

7 Things You Need To Know About 2018 Required Minimum Distributions
From Matt Carey; Forbes ~ Sep 12, 2018

This property tax strategy can help free up income in retirement
By Lorie Konish; CNBC ~ Sep 12, 2018

Republicans lack votes _ and appetite _ to end ‘Obamacare’
By Alan Fram; The Associated Press ~ Sep 11, 2018

Elder Financial Abuse Will Get Worse As Americans Age
From Teresa Ghilarducci; Forbes ~ Sep 11, 2018

Doctors speak out: CMS gets 15,314 comments on proposed physician Medicare changes
By Joanne Finnegan; FierceHealthcare ~ Sep 11, 2018

Opinion: Medicare's ACOs Saved Nearly $2 Billion Over Three Years, Group Says
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Sep 11, 2018

Understanding Social Security For The Public Sector: The Windfall Elimination Provision
From Tom R. Hager; Forbes ~ Sep 11, 2018

Trump takes a first step to boost retirement security
By Steve Vernon; CBS News ~ Sep 11, 2018

Drug company CEO calls 400 percent price hike 'moral requirement'
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Sep 11, 2018

New scam targeting Medicare users
By Tricia Kean; KTNV.com ~ Sep 11, 2018

Retirees across America are facing a fiscal crisis
By Angela Moore; MarketWatch ~ Sep 11, 2018

UnitedHealthcare wins court case over Medicare Advantage overpayment rule
By Susan Morse; Healthcare Finance ~ Sep 10, 2018

The Remedy For Surprise Medical Bills May Lie In Stitching Up Federal Law
By Michelle Andrews & Julie Appleby; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 10, 2018

House Republicans target more tax cuts as elections near
By David Morgan; Reuters ~ Sep 10, 2018

Opinion: Trump is wrong, Dems are fighting to save Medicare and Social Security
From Max Richtman; The Hill ~ Sep 10, 2018

Stop Blaming Boomers for Social Security's Mess, and Blame These 6 Things Instead
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Sep 09, 2018

The Social Security Scam That Just Won't Die
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ Sep 09, 2018

Could Trump’s Drug Industry Critiques Be Working? Latest Drug Price Trends Are Good For Americans

Opinion: Thanks to the Trump administration, families can rest a little easier this fall
From Sarah Lee; The Hill ~ Sep 08, 2018

IRS Warns Retirees: Act Now To Avoid Surprise Tax Bill Next April
From Ashlea Ebeling; Forbes ~ Sep 07, 2018

The High Cost Of Hope: When The Parallel Interests Of Pharma And Families Collide
By Emily Kopp & Jay Hancock; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 07, 2018

AP Exclusive: Stable costs may shift ‘Obamacare’ politics
By Meghan Hoyer & Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Sep 07, 2018

Obama calls 'Medicare for all' a 'good' idea
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Sep 07, 2018

Judge’s Pointed Questions To Health Law Defenders Over Severability Hints At Which Way Case Will Go
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 06, 2018

Opinion: New York Life Insurance Brings New Innovations To Long-Term Care Insurance Market
From Jamie Hopkins; Forbes ~ Sep 06, 2018

How the president and Congress can help Americans achieve a secure retirement
From Jana Greer; The Hill ~ Sep 06, 2018

Mayo Clinic, other hospitals launching generic drug maker Civica Rx

Opinion: Aging Parents And The Dangers Of Overmedication
From Carolyn Rosenblatt; Forbes ~ Sep 06, 2018

No immediate ruling in GOP’s latest ‘Obamacare’ lawsuit
The Associated Press ~ Sep 05, 2018

Latest Bid To Kill Health Law Gets Day In Court, Giving Dems A Possible Gift As Midterm Season Enters Final Stretch
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 05, 2018

McConnell: No plan to try again on ObamaCare repeal soon
By Alexander Bolton; The Hill ~ Sep 05, 2018

Poll: ACA's Patient Protections Gain Popularity Among Democrats And Republicans
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Sep 05, 2018

Clean Up Your Assets: 3 Tax-Conscious Investment Tips
From Marc Werkmeister; Forbes ~ Sep 05, 2018

Hospitals are the ones marking up drug prices, new PhRMA report says
By Tina Reed; FierceHealthcare ~ Sep 05, 2018

Not Getting Enough Sleep Could Hurt Your Heart
By Emily Price; Fortune ~ Sep 05, 2018

Paul Ryan: House to Make Individual Tax Cuts Permanent
By Theodore Bunker; Newsmax ~ Sep 05, 2018

A Texas Lawsuit Being Heard This Week Could Mean Life Or Death For The ACA
By Julie Rovner; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 04, 2018

Insurers Pocketing Millions From Medicare By Combing Through Medical Charts For Additional Diagnosis Codes
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Sep 04, 2018

Required Minimum Distributions: Is There An Unintended Nudge?
From Elizabeth Bauer; Forbes ~ Sep 04, 2018

Insurance tactic drags down U.S. drug prices in second quarter: analyst
By Michael Erman; Reuters ~ Sep 04, 2018

Improved mortality means Social Security benefiting higher earners more – CRR brief
By Hazel Bradford; Pensions & Investments ~ Sep 04, 2018

Is Your Financial Plan Future-Proof? 4 Quick Ways to Plan for the Unexpected
From Ron Carson; Forbes ~ Sep 03, 2018

Surprise! Your Medicare Part D Premium Could Drop in 2019
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ Sep 02, 2018

Nearly 60% Of Americans Surprised By Medical Bills They Thought Were Covered
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Sep 02, 2018

3 ideas that beat single-payer to reform health care
By Former Gov. Ed Rendell; The Hill ~ Sep 02, 2018

Lieberman: McCain's vote against ObamaCare repeal was a vote against ‘mindless partisanship’
By Morgan Gstalter; The Hill ~ Sep 01, 2018

Opinion: Long Before The $32 Trillion Price Tag, Bernie Sanders' Home State Exposed High Cost Of Single Payer
From Patrick Gleason; Forbes ~ Aug 31, 2018

House leaders ask PBMs to explain their impact on downstream drug costs
By Evan Sweeney; FierceHealthcare ~ Aug 31, 2018

CMS to Allow Indication-Based Formulary Design in Medicare
By Shannon Firth; MedPage Today ~ Aug 30, 2018

CMS Aims To Ramp Up Medicare Part D Plans’ Negotiating Power Over Drug Costs With Formulary Change
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 31, 2018

Opinion: Yes, There’s Hope for Health Care Reform
From Lanhee J. Chen & James C. Capretta; The New York Times ~ Aug 31, 2018

What Retirees Must Know About President Trump's Latest Tax Proposal
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ Aug 31, 2018

Trump calls for path to open multiple employer plans, mandatory retirement distribution changes
By Hazel Bradford; Pensions & Investments ~ Aug 31, 2018

Opinion: You Might Live To Be 100! Better Do Some Planning
From Sara Zeff Geber; Forbes ~ Aug 31, 2018

Save Money on Medicare. During open enrollment, take a hard look at Part D and Medicare Advantage plans.
By Kimberly Lankford; Kiplinger ~ Aug 30, 2018

Democrats Offer Bill To Roll Back Short-Term-Plans Rule With Aim Of Forcing GOP To Vote On Health Care Before Midterms
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 30, 2018

Washington's fall agenda: Pre-existing conditions fight takes center stage in midterms
By Jessie Hellmann & Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Aug 30, 2018

HHS Watchdog To Probe Enforcement Of Nursing Home Staffing Standards
By Jordan Rau; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 30, 2018

‘Medicare for All’ Is a Fantasy
By Reihan Salam; The Atlantic ~ Aug 30, 2018

Opinion: PBMs Are Hogging Our Drug Discounts
From Peter J. Pitts; Fortune ~ Aug 28, 2018

Opinion: Surprise! Trump might actually lower drug prices.
From Dana Goldman & Anupam Jena; The Washington Post ~ Aug 28, 2018

America’s Uninsured Numbers Hold Fairly Steady, While Geographical Disparity Remains Stark
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 29, 2018

Opinion: The Interim Healthcare Franchise Program: Strengthened By Medicare
From Ed Teixeira; Forbes ~ Aug 29, 2018

Retirement tips: 8 ways to start your year-end financial planning now
By Robert Powell; USA TODAY ~ Aug 29, 2018

White House retirement security announcement expected Friday
By Hazel Bradford; Pensions & Investments ~ Aug 29, 2018

Health Care Costs Among Hardships Weighing On Americans Even In Strong Economy
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 28, 2018

Opinion: Doctors Would Like Trump To Reduce Paperwork Without Cutting Their Pay
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Aug 28, 2018

Opinion: Congress must act on tax reform 2.0
From Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas); The Hill ~ Aug 28, 2018

Eli Lilly CEO: Why Consumers Are Key to Bringing Down Health Care Costs
By David A. Ricks; Fortune ~ Aug 27, 2018

The Doctors Want In: Democratic Docs Talk Health Care On The Campaign Trail
By Shefali Luthra; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 27, 2018

Why The Concept Of Retirement Is Destructive And Needs To Be Replaced
From Prudy Gourguechon; Forbes ~ Aug 27, 2018

Opinion: You May Start Seeing Drug Prices In Ads, But Will You Understand The Point?
From Arlene Weintraub; Forbes ~ Aug 28, 2018

Aspirin disappoints for avoiding first heart attack, stroke
By Marilynn Marchione; The Associated Press ~ Aug 27, 2018

Scammers Posing with Medicare Seek Social Security Numbers
By Caroline Coleburn; NBC29 ~ Aug 27, 2018

Taxpayers scramble as proposed IRS rule on local taxes wrecks workaround strategy
By Darla Mercado; CNBC ~ Aug 24, 2018

What's a Social Security Representative Payee (and Do I Need One)?
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ Aug 25, 2018

Opinion: How to reset retirement plans to weather a downturn
From Liz Weston; Startribune ~ Aug 25, 2018

How to Find the Best Medicare Drug Plan for You for 2019
By Kimberly Lankford; Kiplinger ~ Aug 24, 2018

3 Unusual Retirement Risks You Can't Ignore
From David Rae; Forbes ~ Aug 24, 2018

Hospital Sleuths Unearth Surprise: Knee Surgery Bills Are 5 Times Its Cost.
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 22, 2018

4 ways the Trump administration wants to change Medicare
By Tami Luhby; CNN ~ Aug 22, 2018

Grassley tries to overcome Hatch objections to disclosing drug prices in ads
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Aug 23, 2018

Report: Trump administration needs to step up on ‘Obamacare’
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Aug 23, 2018

GAO Tells Administration To Do More To Manage Health Law Sign-Ups, But Also Praises Some Of Its Efforts
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 23, 2018

HIP supports requirement for drug companies to put prices in consumer ads
By Susan Morse; Healthcare Finance ~ Aug 22, 2018

On The Campaign Trail, GOP Candidates Struggle To Find Clear Health Care Message
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 22, 2018

Opinion: How Trust-Owned Life Insurance Can Be Used Effectively In Your Estate Plan
From Michael Jankowski; Forbes ~ Aug 22, 2018

McCaskill presses Trump official on lawsuit against pre-existing condition protections
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Aug 21, 2018

Opinion: How Walmart Outflanks Amazon To Win Seniors In Medicare Advantage Plans
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Aug 21, 2018

Why ‘Medicare for all’ is playing poorly in Democratic primaries
By Paul Demko; Politico ~ Aug 21, 2018

U.S. Hospitals Shut at 30-a-Year Pace, With No End in Sight
By Cristin Flanagan; Bloomberg ~ Aug 21, 2018

Opinion: When Your Elder Family Member Will Not Address The Realities Of Aging
From Carolyn McClanahan; Forbes ~ Aug 21, 2018

Drug companies rein in prices in response to President Trump's pharma pricing blueprint, HHS report says
By Susan Morse; Healthcare Finance ~ Aug 21, 2018

Anthem, Walmart Partner To Expand Seniors’ Access To OTC Medications
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 21, 2018

Coming midterms could be catalyst for success of long-sought priorities
By Hazel Bradford; Pensions & Investments ~ Aug 20, 2018

CMS to dole out $8.6 million in funding to states to help stabilize health insurance markets
By Beth Jones Sanborn; Healthcare Finance ~ Aug 20, 2018

Sanders hits 'Medicare for all' fact checks as 'riddled with errors'
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Aug 20, 2018

HHS Secretary: We have the power to eliminate rebates
By Alia Paavola; Becker’s Hospital Review ~ Aug 20, 2018

Despite vastly improved funding, corporate pensions still face headwinds
By Nick Thornton; BenefitsPRO ~ Aug 20, 2018

An SEC proposal to increase customer protections
From Christina Mitsopoulos; The Hill ~ Aug 20, 2018

IRS Still Lacks Protections for Sensitive Taxpayer Information
By Adam Kredo; The Washington Free Beacon ~ Aug 20, 2018

A patient paid $285 for a $40 drug: Here's why
By Alia Paavola; Becker’s Hospital Review ~ Aug 20, 2018

Opinion: Long-Term Care Insurance For Singles: Do You Really Need It?
From David Rae; Forbes ~ Aug 20, 2018

Opinion: Keep Your Options Open In Retirement
From Zachary Steinhandler; Forbes ~ Aug 20, 2018

A leading Republican urges reform for Medicare and Social Security as deficits balloon after the GOP's tax cut
By John Harwood; CNBC ~ Aug 20, 2018

Opinion: Democrats Rip GOP On Pre-existing Conditions Without Mentioning Obamacare
From Bruce Japsen; Forbes ~ Aug 19, 2018

How To Negotiate With Customer Service At Big Companies
By Lelia Gowland; Forbes ~ Aug 19, 2018

Companies report no signs of drugmakers cutting prices, despite Trump pledge
By Jessie Hellmann, The Hill – Aug 17, 2018

80 percent of millennials worried about Social Security: study
By Gregory Bresige, New York Post – Aug 18, 2018

How Would You Fix Social Security?
By Sean Williams, Motley Fool – Aug 18, 2018

Senators Challenge Azar On Assertion That Middlemen Are Preventing Drugmakers From Lowering Prices
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 17, 2018

Companies report no signs of drugmakers cutting prices, despite Trump pledge
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Aug 17, 2018

It will be tough for Trump's SEC to overhaul reporting rules
By Pete Schroeder; Forbes ~ Aug 17, 2018

Trump backs CEOs, proposes easing corporate reporting rules
By “Staff”; Reuters ~ Aug 17, 2018

Opinion: Middle-class Americans can't afford another $22 trillion financial crash
From Dennis M. Kelleher; The Hill ~ Aug 17, 2018

Avoid Social Security And Medicare Scams By Staying Informed And Using Caution
By Kelly Phillips Erb; Forbes ~ Aug 17, 2018

Opinion: Increasing Numbers of Americans Want Single Payer, But Is That What They Want?
From Joshua Cohen; Forbes ~ Aug 16, 2018

Trump officials approve New Jersey plan to stabilize ObamaCare
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ Aug 16, 2018

States Leverage Federal Funds To Help Insurers Lower Premiums
By Steven Findlay; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 15, 2018

The Health 202: Senate Democrats stay focused on health care even during short August recess
By Colby Itkowitz; The Washington Post ~ Aug 15, 2018

Drug middlemen push back that rebates are to blame for high drug prices
By Robert King; The Washington Examiner ~ Aug 15, 2018

Cuts in Social Security and Medicare are inevitable. Delaying reform will make it worse
By David Schoenbrod and Brian Riedl, USA Today – Aug 15, 2018

Feds Urge States To Encourage Cheaper Plans Off The Exchanges
By Michelle Andrews; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 14, 2018

Google parent invests $375M in ObamaCare startup Oscar
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Aug 14, 2018

Scam robocallers are getting creative and stole nearly $1 billion last year
By Elisabeth Buchwald; MarketWatch ~ Aug 14, 2018

Opinion: For Older Drivers, Silence Is Not Golden
From Tanya Mohn; Forbes ~ Aug 14, 2018

Short-Term Plans Allowed By Trump Not Being Embraced By State Insurance Commissioners
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 13, 2018

Patients often end up with expensive medical bills, even when they go to in-network facilities: analysis
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Aug 13, 2018

Does Self-Directed Long-Term Home Care Make Sense For You?
From John F. Wasik,; Forbes ~ Aug 13, 2018

Opinion: Healthcare Is The No. 1 Issue For Voters; A New Poll Reveals Which Healthcare Issue Matters Most
From Robert Pearl, M.D. ; Forbes ~ Aug 13, 2018

The Terrible Social Security Proposal That Just Won't Die
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Aug 12, 2018

Opinion: New Medicare drug pricing rule — a small 'step' in the right direction
From Rea S. Hederman Jr.; The Hill ~ Aug 11, 2018

A counter balance to Big Pharma at the ballot box
From David Mitchell; The Hill ~ Aug 11, 2018

Does America Face a "Boom" in Retiree Bankruptcies?
From Andrew Biggs; Forbes ~ Aug 10, 2018

Osteoporosis drugs tied to lower fracture risk and health costs
By Lisa Rapaport; Reuters ~ Aug 10, 2018

Medicare To Overhaul ACOs But Critics Fear Less Participation
By Phil Galewitz; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 09, 2018

Opinion: No, "Medicare for All" Is Still Not Plausible
From Brian Riedl; Economics21 ~ Aug 10, 2018

Opinion: Social Security and the Myth About the 3rd-Rail
By Brenton Smith, FedSmith – Aug 8, 2018

Why Medicare Can't Get The Lowest Drug Prices
From John Wasik; Forbes ~ Aug 10, 2018

Income From the Taxation of Social Security Benefits Will More Than Double by 2026
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Aug 10, 2018

Opinion: Americans Fund Most of the World’s Drug Research. Here’s How Trump Can End That
From Charles Boustany; Fortune ~ Aug 09, 2018

Trump admin urges states to cooperate on expansion of non-ObamaCare plans
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Aug 09, 2018

Pharmacy-Made Pain Creams Flagged On Fears Of Medicare Fraud And Risk
By Julie Appleby; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 09, 2018

Medicare’s Power To Negotiate Drug Prices Will Harm Patients With Chronic Illnesses, Advocates Warn
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 09, 2018

CVS launches MinuteClinic -- phone app health visits
By Danielle Haynes; United Press International ~ Aug 08, 2018

Opinion: FDA Approves First Generic Drugs For Fast-Track Review To Combat Overpriced Drugs
From Evie Fordham; The Daily Caller ~ Aug 08, 2018

Longevity Re-Explained: It's Taking Longer For People To Feel Old
From Robert Laura; Forbes ~ Aug 08, 2018

State Insurance Regulators Doubtful That ‘Junk Insurance Is Better Than Nothing’ When It Comes To Short-Term Plans
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 07, 2018

Opinion: Lawsuit exposes fatal flaw in ObamaCare's individual mandate
From Robert Henneke & Braden Boucek; The Hill ~ Aug 07, 2018

Here's How To Refresh Your Retirement: The 4% Rule Of Thumb
From Kerri Zane; Forbes ~ Aug 07, 2018

Opinion: Changes To Drug Prices: Gestures And Real Policy Shifts
From Joshua Cohen; Forbes ~ Aug 07, 2018

Opinion: The capital gains tax cut: Like taking candy from a baby
From Gary A. Garfield; The Hill ~ Aug 07, 2018

Commentary: Retirement reality: Many Americans will not be able to live out their dreams
By Jay Shah, CNBC – Aug 8, 2018

More older Americans filing for bankruptcy
By Brittany De Lea, Fox Business – Aug 6, 2018

Just Because Extended Short-Term Plans Are Allowed Doesn’t Mean Insurers Are Ready To Offer Them
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 06, 2018

Opinion: What Will Solo Agers Need When They Are Really Old?
From Sara Zeff Geber; Forbes ~ Aug 06, 2018

Opinion: Hospitals have been fleecing Medicare seniors—but hopefully not for much longer
From Ted Okon; The Hill ~ Aug 06, 2018

Opinion: To Avoid a Nasty Tax Surprise on April 15, Check Your Withholding Now
From Brian Vnak, CFP, CPA: Kiplinger ~ Aug 06, 2018

Retirees Struggle To Locate Billions In Lost Pensions As Government Looks For Solutions
By Liam Knox & Lucas Smolcic Larson; WGBH ~ Aug 06, 2018

Opinion: Compulsory pharmaceutical licensing is little more than government theft
From Elizabeth Wright; The Hill ~ Aug 05, 2018

Slow rollout, more fine print with Trump health care options
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Aug 05, 2018

Editorial: Trump offers dose of health care coverage sanity
From “Staff”; Boston Herald ~ Aug 05, 2018

'Medicare for all' is a pipe dream
From Dr. Marc Siegel; The Hill ~ Aug 04, 2018

Savvy Senior: How Medicare covers diabetes
By Jim Miller; Daily Herald ~ Aug 05, 2018

What The Demise Of The DOL Fiduciary Rule Means For You: 4 Questions To Ask Your Advisor Now
From Ron Carson; Forbes ~ Aug 05, 2018

Express Scripts hits back at criticisms of PBMs, says it 'would do just fine' without drug price rebates
By Paige Minemyer; FierceHealthcare ~ Aug 03, 2018

Opinion: We need family leave -- but not at the expense of retirement benefits
From Jennifer Greenfield; CNN ~ Aug 03, 2018

Democrats Hope To Put Republican Senators On Hot Spot With Vote To Block Short-Term Plans
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 03, 2018

AT&T Overpaid Some Pensioners. Now It Wants the Money Back.
By Theo Francis, Wall Street Journal, Aug 3, 2018

New Trump administration rule will require hospitals post prices online
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Aug 03, 2018

Medicare Part D Premiums Expected to Decline in 2019
By Thomas Beaton; HealthPayer Intelligence ~ Aug 03, 2018

How drug companies are beating Trump at his own game
By Sarah Karlin-Smith, Sarah Owermohle and Andrew Restuccia, Politico – Aug 3, 2018

Rubio rolls out paid parental leave bill
By Naomi Jagoda, The Hill – Aug 2, 2018

Senate Dems to force vote to block non-ObamaCare insurance plans
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ Aug 02, 2018

‘These Plans Aren’t For Everyone’: Administration Defends Short-Term Coverage As Critics Call It Junk Insurance
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 02, 2018

Nearly a Third of US Pension Plans Are Now within Striking Distance of a Buyout, Says RiskFirst Analysis
From Business Wire; The Associated Press ~ Aug 02, 2018

The Trump Administration Will Boost 'Short-Term Health Plans'—Here's What That Means for You
By Sy Mukherjee; Fortune ~ Aug 01, 2018

Column: Is meaningful, part-time work in retirement a myth?
From Gail MarksJarvis; Reuters ~ Aug 02, 2018

Column: Author delves into U.S. Social Security's origins to debunk myths
From Mark Miller; Reuters ~ Aug 02, 2018

Senate GOP battles for leverage with House on spending
By Alexander Bolton & Niv Elis; The Hill ~ Aug 01, 2018

To Tame Prescription Prices, HHS Dips A Toe Into Drug Importation Stream
By Rachel Bluth; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 01, 2018

Single-Payer Health Plan Studies Give Fuel to the Left and Right
By Zachary Tracer; Bloomberg ~ Aug 01, 2018

Why Does U.S. Spend So Much On Health Care? One Reason Is No One Really Knows True Cost Of What They’re Buying
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Aug 01, 2018

Trump’s short-term health plans are cheaper but cover less
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Aug 01, 2018

Opinion: Homeowner's insurance: 10 tips for older Americans
From Robert Powell; USA TODAY ~ Aug 01, 2018

What Will Social Security Look Like in 50 Years?
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Aug 01, 2018

amazon smile AmazonSmile Program to Benefit the American Retirees Education Program (AREF)

The National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) board created the American Retiree Education Foundation (AREF) in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible, nonprofit education foundation to expand the research and educational reach of the NRLN and to enable NRLN to sharpen its focus as an organization lobbying for the passage of federal legislation and regulations that benefit retirees.

The AREF is always seeking ways to increase its funding through individual tax-deductible contributions, grants from public and private foundations, individual tax-deductible bequests and non-traditional ways. AREF funds pay for a number of tasks previously paid for by the NRLN. For example, the updating this month of the white paper on Protecting Pension Assets which is used to educate members of Congress on the need for legislation to prevent pension plan sponsors from using plan assets for non-pension expenses. Access the white paper here.

The AREF has identified a non-traditional way that you can help fund the AREF without costing you anything extra if (when) you make a purchase online from Amazon through its AmazonSmile program designed to provide a percentage of a purchase price to qualified non-profit organizations, such as the AREF. I urge you to read the following information and help provide funding to the AREF should you make an Amazon purchase. Click here to learn more about AmazonSmile.

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