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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

LET’S TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

(posted on Faceboook 6/20)

In our May and early June website and Facebook messages we asked questions and offered some answers about whether or not Medicare privatization was underway today and if privatization could eventually eliminate Medicare. We asked whether or not you were aware that most 40-year-olds were not saving enough to retire at age 65 and pointed out that by 2034 there would be 75 million Americans over age 65, up from 60 million today and that by 2060 there would be nearly 100 million over age 65 (one for every four Americans).

Our kids in their 40s and 50s today and their kids behind them had better start saving more or they will have lower income, higher healthcare costs and less purchasing power to retire on. Through your nrln.org website and Facebook.com/NRLN1 comments, you have told us you are concerned and that there are millions of working people who can’t save very much.

Regarding my predictions on privatization of Medicare, on Tuesday, June 19, the Hill reported that “House Republicans offered a budget proposal that would cut mandatory spending… “including $537 billion in cuts to Medicare and $1.5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other health programs.” Privatization of Medicare would replace plans A & B with private plans and was cited as the way to cut benefits!

The NRLN has been very concerned about a Congress that ignores the future and stays focused instead on getting elected and reelected over the future of our economy. Lower retirement income, higher healthcare costs and overall less purchasing power without Medicare will leave 100 million Americans at risk. This is senseless, there is a better way!

We have analyzed Social Security and Medicare Trustee 2017 plan year annual reports issued two weeks ago and your comments. We will be sending you a series of messages about relevant data that we will offer in NRLN’s proposal that could save Medicare and Social Security and reduce the U.S. budget and deficit without raising taxes. We need you to sign others up to receive NRLN emails at nrln.org and Facebook posts and to respond to requests asking you to write to Congress and Executive Branch members. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent you should understand the facts and the consequences your kids, grandkids and to some extent each of us may face.

Let’s don’t be all bark and no bite like our predecessors, let’s try to make a difference we can be proud of.

Medicare Coverage Outside U.S.

Summer officially begins this Thursday, June 21, and many Americans will be traveling across the nation and to foreign countries. If you will be traveling outside the U.S and have traditional Medicare Part A and B, you need to be aware that in general, health care you receive isn’t covered. The exceptions are Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa are considered part of the U.S.

Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital, doctor and or ambulance services in a foreign country in these cases:

  • You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
  • You're traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
  • You live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.

In some cases, Medicare may cover medically necessary health care services you get on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S. Medicare won't pay for health care services you get when a ship is more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

Medicare drug plans don't cover prescription drugs you buy outside the U.S.

Medigap Supplement to Traditional Medicare

If you have a Medigap policy supplementing your traditional Medicare it may offer additional coverage for health care services or supplies that you get outside the U.S. Standard Medigap Plans C, D, F, G, M, and N provide foreign travel emergency health care coverage when you travel outside the U.S. Plans E, H, I, and J are no longer for sale, but if you bought one before June 1, 2010 you may keep it. All of these plans also provide foreign travel emergency health care coverage when you travel outside the U.S.

If you have Medigap Plan C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M or N, your plan:

  • Covers foreign travel emergency care if it begins during the first 60 days of your trip, and if Medicare doesn't otherwise cover the care.
  • Pays 80% of the billed charges for certain medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S. after you meet a $250 deductible for the year.

Foreign travel emergency coverage with Medigap policies has a lifetime limit of $50,000.

Before you travel outside the U.S., talk with your Medigap plan’s insurance agent to get more information about your Medigap coverage while traveling.

Medicare Advantage or Travel Health Insurance

If you have a Medicare Advantage health plan (instead of Original Medicare), check with your plan’s insurance agent to see if the plan provides coverage outside the U.S.

While we believe the above information is current you should always verify your Medicare A and B coverage by checking with Medicare.gov or your insurance agent who may have sold you a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. Some HMO type MA plans restrict your use of both physician and or health care facilities networks in the U.S. and abroad. Likewise, make sure you review your Medigap policies to verify that you are covered.

Also, there is always the option, if necessary, to purchase a travel insurance policy that includes health coverage outside the U.S.

Bill Kadereit, President
National Retiree Legislative Network

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.

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 URGE SENATORS TO PASS
CREATES ACT

A bill that the NRLN has supported, S. 974, Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 16 to 5 vote on June 14. The CREATES Act targets abusive delay tactics that are being used by brand-name pharmaceutical companies to block market entry of more affordable generic drugs. Click here to email the NRLN’s sample letter, with your personal comments added, to urge your Senators to support bringing the bill to the Senate floor for a vote very soon and they should vote for the bill and send it to the House.

alysonHAPPENINGS ON THE HILL May 2018
By Alyson Parker, NRLN Executive Director

Prescription Drugs

The Trump Administration finally released their blueprint to rein in the high cost of prescription drugs. There were not many new ideas set forth in the plan and details of how they will accomplish their initiatives were lacking. Many of these initiatives will need congressional action, which is not a good sign because of the proven inability of Congress to move legislation to lower the price of prescription drugs. Additionally, we are disappointed that the President did not embrace two policies advocated by the NRLN - importation from Canada and permitting Medicare to negotiate drug prices. One positive, however, is that the Administration is engaged on this issue, which puts pressure on Congress to act.

The President’s plan proposes:

  • Ending the rule that prevents pharmacists from notifying customers that they will save money if they pay cash as opposed to going through their insurance plan.
  • Targeting the price disparity of what pharmaceutical companies charge Americans and what they charge overseas for the same exact drug manufactured at the same plant. This is an issue that the NRLN has advocated for in letters to the Administration and our meetings with agencies and the Hill.
  • Targeting, through the FDA, the obscure system of discounts and rebates between the pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies and the pharmacy benefit mangers (middlemen) and bring transparency to the process.
  • Exploring requiring prescription drug commercials to disclose the price of the drug.
  • Ending the practices of large drug makers who extend their patents by tweaking the drug formula with the intent of getting an extension or refusing to provide samples to possible competitors, which are needed by generic companies to test their product and gain approval from the Federal Drug Administration.

The Hill

Despite a push from senior members of Congress such as Senators Chuck Grassley (IA) and Pat Leahy (VT) and many outside coalitions such as the NRLN, the CREATES Act was not brought to the floor for a vote this spring as many expected. The CREATES Act intends to end practices employed by large drug makers to keep generic competitors out of the market. The legislation has garnered more supporters on both side of the aisle these last few months and Speaker Paul Ryan (WI-01) has said they are looking at the bill. Many believe that it may be considered early fall.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee will hold a hearing on June 12th at 10:00 a.m. on the President’s plan to lower prescription drug prices. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar will be the sole witness.

Pensions

The Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multi-Employer Pension Plans continues to hold hearings in an effort to get as much information as possible before they prepare a report and make recommendations on the best way to solve this crisis. The last hearing was held May 17th and examined the state of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) with Director Tom Reeder testifying. A report is due from this committee in November. In a recent conversation with Hill staff involved with this committee, I was told there is only a twenty-five percent chance anything would move this year on a multi-employer fix, especially in light of the upcoming mid-term elections where control of the House and Senate is in play.

The Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions recently held a hearing on ways to update ERISA and giving workers and families tools to save for retirement. In a recent opinion piece by Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-07), he stated that “Every American should have access to tools that allow them to retire with dignity and peace of mind after years of hard work.” I met with Subcommittee staff last week about the NRLN’s proposed legislative solutions and we will continue to work with his committee to address protecting the retiree and their pension benefits.

PBGC

The PBGC released their FY 2017 Projections Report on May 31st, which showed PBGC’s Multi Employer Program is likely to become insolvent by the end of FY 2025, and while there remain some risks, PBGC’s Single-Employer Program is likely to eliminate its’ deficit sooner than previously anticipated. I have attached a link to the full report: https://www.pbgc.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2017-projections-report.pdf

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.

Sept. 10-12, 2018 for NRLN Fall Fly-In to Washington, DC

Grassroots advocates of the NRLN retiree associations and chapters will meet in Washington, DC with members of Congress and their staffs during the fall Fly-In Monday, Sept.10 through Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018.

The Holiday Inn Capitol Hotel, at 550 C Street SW, Washington, DC, was selected again for its very competitive nightly room rate and being near Capitol Hill. The room rate for the Sept. meeting is $279 per night. This rate is subject to additional tax and fees.

The Fly-In will begin on Monday afternoon with a session at the hotel. Attendees will spend the entire day of Tuesday and part of Wednesday meeting with their Representatives, Senators and members of their staffs.

The fall Fly-In is open to all NRLN grassroots advocates. Advocates who are affiliated with a retiree association or chapter should notify the president of their organization if they are interested in attending.

Presidents of retiree associations and chapters affiliated with the NRLN are encouraged to solicit as many of their Grassroots State and Congressional District leaders as possible to attend the Fly-In. The sooner the NRLN is notified of intentions to attend the meetings the better it will be for the NRLN to make plans for the meetings. Email intentions to attend and/or questions to contact@nrln.org.

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.

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.

Sen. Bob Corker criticizes Trump proposal to sell TVA transmission lines, calls move unlikely
By Jordyn Pair; Knoxville News Sentinel ~ Jun 22, 2018

Why Competition Won’t Bring Down Drug Prices
From Elisabeth Rosenthal; The New York Times ~ Jun 22, 2018

Amid Years Of Dashed Hopes Over Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs, Study Linking Common Virus To Disease Fans Hope
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 22, 2018

Opinion: Social Security Feels Pinch As Baby Boomers Clock Out For Good
From Adam Bergman; Forbes ~ Jun 21, 2018

Trump administration proposes to sell TVA transmission lines
From staff reports; The Daily Times ~ Jun 21, 2018

Atul Gawande Says U.S. Health System Is ‘Very Expensive Pile Of Junk.’ As Head Of Billionaires’ Initiative, Will He Be Able To Fix It?
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 21, 2018

Social Security benefits buy 34 percent less than in 2000, study shows
By Sarah O'Brien, CNBC - June 21, 2018

Companies need older workers: here is why
By Mark Miller; Reuters ~ Jun 21, 2018

Opinion: The Trump Administration's Squeeze On Affordable Health Insurance For 50- To 64-Year-Olds
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ Jun 21, 2018

It’s official: DOL fiduciary rule is dead
By Mark Schoeff Jr.; Pensions & Investments ~ Jun 21, 2018

Could This Simple Fix Really Solve Social Security's Problems?
By Dan Caplinger, MotleyFool – June 20, 2018

Drug shortages again on the rise after 5 years of improvements, FDA says
By Eric Palmer; FiercePharma ~ Jun 20, 2018

Trump Touts ‘Massive’ Savings From Association Health Plans, But Critics Still Say They’re Junk Insurance
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 20, 2018

Is HHS Committed to Lowering Drug Prices?
By Thomas Sullivan; Policy & Medicine ~ Jun 17, 2018

Lower costs, fewer benefits in new health insurance option
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Jun 19, 2018

Conservatives to unveil ACA repeal plan as bipartisan governors rally around pre-existing condition protections
By Mike Stankiewicz; FierceHealthcare ~ Jun 19, 2018

House GOP 2019 budget calls for deep Medicare, Medicaid spending cuts
By Niv Elis & Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Jun 19, 2018

Enough about Social Security: For some, the more immediate issue are pensions
By Margarida Correia; Financial Planning ~ Jun 18, 2018

60% of Gen Xers Worry Medicare Won't Cut It in Retirement. Are They Right?
By Maurie Backman; The Motley Fool ~ Jun 18, 2018

Trump’s Plan to Lower Drug Prices Tests Limits of the Law
By Robert Pear; The New York Times ~ Jun 17, 2018

Here's why we should put more money into Alzheimer's research
From Andrew Tisch; The Hill ~ Jun 17, 2018

What Are the Medicare Trust Funds (and Why Should I Worry About Them)?
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ Jun 16, 2018

The Health 202: Some of Obamacare's loudest critics are now defending the law in court
By Paige Winfield Cunningham; The Washington Post ~ Jun 15, 2018

Soaring costs, loss of benefits top Americans' healthcare worries: Reuters/Ipsos poll
By Maria Caspani; Reuters ~ Jun 15, 2018

Even If You Get Insurance Through Work, Trump Administration’s Pre-Existing Conditions Decision Could Still Effect You
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 14, 2018

Eli Lilly CEO: 'It's time for a change' in the drug pricing system
By Kellie Ell; CNBC ~ Jun 14, 2018

Court: Federal government doesn’t owe insurers Obamacare payments
By Paul Demko; Politico ~ Jun 14, 2018

Opinion: Current Prescription Drug Pricing Practices: Lessons In Obfuscation
From Joshua Cohen; Forbes ~ Jun 14, 2018

Wanted: Doctors in Congress
By David Pittman; Politico ~ Jun 14, 2018

Editorial Perspectives: Heed Warning Signs About Dire Implications For Medicare
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 14, 2018

Experts: Protections on pre-existing conditions at risk
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Jun 14, 2018

That ‘Living Will’ You Signed? At The ER, It Could Be Open To Interpretation.
By Judith Graham; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 14, 2018

Social Security Reform, Back Where We Started
From Andrew Biggs ; Forbes ~ Jun 14, 2018

It's Official: U.S. Rule to Protect Retirement Savers Is Dead
By Neil Weinberg; Bloomberg ~ Jun 14, 2018

‘This Is Like Some Kind Of Sick Joke’: Senators Get Fired Up Over Pre-Existing Conditions Provision At Azar Hearing
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 13, 2018

Opinion: Medicare Trustees report shows the harmful consequences of Republican policies
From Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.); The Hill ~ Jun 13, 2018

Employers open to multiemployer loan program
By Hazel Bradford; Pensions & Investments ~ Jun 13, 2018

The multiemployer pension crisis
From Aliya Wong; The Hill ~ Jun 13, 2018

Opinion: A New Congressional Proposal For A Medicare Long-Term Care Insurance Benefit
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ Jun 13, 2018

Insurance experts: ObamaCare mandate repeal driving premium increases
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Jun 13, 2018

These 7 states are most at risk from rising health-care costs
By Emma Court; MarketWatch ~ Jun 13, 2018

Advocacy Group Blasts Democratic Lawmakers For Their Support Of Pharma’s ‘Doughnut Hole’ Battle
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 12, 2018

A Gift For Democrats? Moderate Republicans Cringe Over Trump Administration’s Health Law Decision
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 11, 2018

Overnight Health Care —Sponsored by PCMA — Spotlight on Trump drug pricing plan
By Jessie Hellmann, Rachel Roubein, Nathaniel Weixel, & Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Jun 11, 2018

Feds: Social Security employee used dead people to steal $680,000
By Stephen Dinan; The Washington Times ~ Jun 12, 2018

New Frontiers For Patient Power
From John C. Goodman; Forbes ~ Jun 11, 2018

Can Low-Intensity Care Solve High Health Care Costs?
From Dhruv Khullar & Austin Frakt; The New York Times ~ Jun 11, 2018

How homeowners win and lose under the new tax law
By Bill Bischoff; MarketWatch ~ Jun 11, 2018

Trump's health chief intensifies attack on drug middlemen, suggests getting rid of rebates
By Angelica LaVito; CNBC ~ Jun 12, 2018

Opinion: The Shifting Retirement Landscape Of Today's Workers
From Jim Poolman; Forbes ~ Jun 12, 2018

Beware of hidden taxes in retirement
By Liz Weston; The Associated Press ~ Jun 11, 2018

Should We Continue To Count On Employers For Retirement Provision?
From Elizabeth Bauer; Forbes ~ Jun 10, 2018

Social Security Could Get a 3% Raise Next Year -- but Will It Even Matter?
By Maurie Backman; The Motley Fool ~ Jun 10, 2018

Medicare Is in Even Worse Shape Than We Thought
By Matthew Frankel; The Motley Fool ~ Jun 10, 2018

Editorial: Easier Drug Approval Isn’t Cutting Drug Prices
From The Editorial Board; The New York Times ~ Jun 08, 2018

Should you be worried about Social Security and Medicare
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Jun 09, 2018

Ivan J. Miller: It's time to take drug prices out of the hands of monopolies
From Ivan J. Miller; Daily Camera ~ Jun 08, 2018

Opinion: Amazon Could Still Disrupt The Prescription Drug Market
From Joshua Cohen; Forbes ~ Jun 08, 2018

‘Single-Payer’ May Be The Buzzword Du Jour, But Democrats Are Being Warned Not To Utter It On The Trail
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 08, 2018

Insurer lobby group weighs in on Obamacare individual mandate case
By Tamara Mathias; Reuters ~ Jun 08, 2018

Dems blast DOJ for 'stunning attack on the rule of law' in ObamaCare case
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Jun 08, 2018

Opinion: Preparing for poverty: America will face a retirement funding crisis
From John M. DeMaggio; The Hill ~ Jun 08, 2018

Opinion: Many Americans think they’ll never receive Social Security benefits. That’s wrong.
From Helaine Olen; The Washington Post ~ Jun 08, 2018

GOP risks fallout from Justice Department move on health law
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Jun 08, 2018

ACA lawsuit could jeopardize 52 million Americans’ access to health care
By Carolyn Y. Johnson; The Washington Post ~ Jun 08, 2018

The ‘Fiduciary Rule’ May Sound Boring, But Its Collapse Threatens Your Retirement
By Katherine Chiglinsky; Bloomberg ~ Jun 08, 2018

Opinion: Making Social Security's retirement age work for workers
From Andy Rotherham; The Hill ~ Jun 08, 2018

Opinion: Fake News: Why Social Security Isn't Going Broke
From John Wasik; Forbes ~ Jun 08, 2018

Opinion: Social Security isn’t ‘going broke’ — it’s already broke
From Merrill Matthews; The Hill ~ Jun 08, 2018

Azar: ‘There’s Little We Can Do To Stop’ High Premium Increases
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 07, 2018

Pelosi Willing to Explore Medicare for All If Dems Take House
By Jason Devaney; Newsmax ~ Jun 07, 2018

What Should Republicans Include In Their Second Tax Bill?
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ Jun 07, 2018

Price Check On Drug Ads: Would Revealing Costs Help Patients Control Spending?
By Julie Appleby & Sydney Lupkin; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 06, 2018

Opinion: As demagogues squawk, clock is ticking on Social Security
From Marc Goldwein; The Hill ~ Jun 07, 2018

New warnings about cuts to Social Security and Medicare are a reason to worry
By Paul Brandus; MarketWatch ~ Jun 07, 2018

Price Check On Drug Ads: Would Revealing Costs Help Patients Control Spending?
By Julie Appleby & Sydney Lupkin; Kaiser Health News ~ Jun 06, 2018

Pharmacy Benefit Managers Are Not The Cause Of High Prescription Drug Prices
From Ike Brannon; Forbes ~ Jun 06, 2018

No, Medicare Won't Go Broke In 2026. Yes, It Will Cost A Lot More Money
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ Jun 06, 2018

To fix Social Security, Congress would not have to raise taxes or cut spending by a single penny
By Steve Goldstein; MarketWatch ~ Jun 06, 2018

Senate panel schedules vote on controversial drug pricing bill
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Jun 05, 2018

Top health lawmakers voice concern about HHS's implementation of cyber law
By Olivia Beavers; The Hill ~ Jun 05, 2018

Opinion: Reform burdensome Medicare regulations to improve end-of-life care
From Norman McRae; The Hill ~ Jun 04, 2018

Opinion: Can The Buy-And-Hold Strategy Ruin Your Retirement?
From Frank Guida; Forbes ~ Jun 05, 2018

More nurse practitioners in primary care a plus, study finds
By Kelly Gooch; Becker’s Hospital Review ~ Jun 05, 2018

Trustees Report Warns Medicare Finances Worsening
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Andrew Taylor, Associated Press – June 5, 2018

Medicare’s Trust Fund Is Set to Run Out in 8 Years. Social Security, 16
By Robert Pear, New York Times – June 5, 2018

Here's what's blowing up America's health care budget
By Tami Luhby; CNNMoney ~ Jun 04, 2018

Opinion: 3 ways you can keep your Social Security number … secure
From Steven C. Johnson; CNBC ~ Jun 04, 2018

Editorial: Trump's drug plan is not a prescription for savings
Editorial Staff, Des Moines Register – May 30, 2018

Feds: Skimping can’t save seniors from rising med cost
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar; The Associated Press ~ Jun 04, 2018

A Surgical Approach To High Prescription Drug Prices
From Grace-Marie Turner; Forbes ~ Jun 04, 2018

Hold Harmless Has Come Back to Haunt Many Social Security Recipients in 2018
By Sean Williams, The Motley Fool – Jun 3, 2018

Doctor: high drug pricing kills patients
By Dr. Nicky J. Mehtani, The Baltimore Sun – Jun 3, 2018

States defy Trump on ObamaCare
By Nathaniel Weixel ; The Hill ~ Jun 02, 2018

Trump Plan to Lower Drug Prices Could Increase Costs for Some Patients
By Robert Pear; The New York Times ~ Jun 02, 2018

Opinion: 5 Legal Ways To Get Tax-Free Income For Retirement
From David Rae; Forbes ~ Jun 01, 2018

How to divvy up the inheritance — and keep the family together
By Thomas Heath; The Washington Post ~ Jun 01, 2018

Opinion: Solving America's retirement security challenges
From Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan; CNBC ~ May 31, 2018

PBGC: Over 90% Chance Union Pension Insurance Program Will Run Out Of Money By 2025
From Ted Knutson; Forbes ~ May 31, 2018

Opinion: Prices that insurers pay can help end hospital price gouging
From George A. Nation III; The Hill ~ May 30, 2018

Inside this summer's Obamacare repeal push
By Robert King; The Washington Examiner ~ May 31, 2018

Seniors slow to embrace online access to doctors, survey says
HealthDay News; United Press International ~ May 30, 2018

Retirees' Reliance on Social Security Ties a 16-Year High, New Survey Shows
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ May 31, 2018

CMS allows payers to send evidence of coverage information electronically for the first time
By Susan Morse; Healthcare Finance ~ May 30, 2018

High blood pressure can increase medical costs by thousands
HealthDay News; United Press International ~ May 30, 2018

Social Security pays benefits to hundreds of dead people
By Stephen Dinan; The Washington Times ~ May 30, 2018

Trump says drug companies to 'voluntarily' slash prescription costs
By Jessie Hellmann ; The Hill ~ May 30, 2018

Will Trump's Drug Plan Reduce Costs For Seniors On Medicare?
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ May 30, 2018

Looking For Lower Medicare Drug Costs? Ask Your Pharmacist For The Cash Price.
By Susan Jaffe; Kaiser Health News ~ May 30, 2018

Social Security: Past, Present And Future
From Catherine Schnaubelt; Forbes ~ May 30, 2018

Tax law led to increase in pension-plan contributions in 2017: study
By Naomi Jagoda; The Hill ~ May 29, 2018 - 05/29/18 03:24 PM EDT

Cassidy plans bill mandating price transparency in health care
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 29, 2018

Benefit Change Could Raise Costs For Patients Getting Drug Copay Assistance
By Michelle Andrews; Kaiser Health News ~ May 29, 2018

Opinion: Aside From Folate, Vitamins Appear Largely Ineffective For Prevention, Study Finds
From Alice G. Walton; Forbes ~ May 28, 2018

This Dangerous 'Advice' Could Cost You Serious Money In Your Retirement
From Michael Foster; Forbes ~ May 29, 2018

Opinion: New SEC Advice Rule Abandons Fiduciary Standard For Brokers
From David John Marotta; Forbes ~ May 28, 2018

Former drug industry lobbyist helps steer Trump drug plan
By David Pittman; Politico ~ May 27, 2018

Opinion: New SEC Advice Rule Abandons Fiduciary Standard For Brokers
From David John Marotta; Forbes ~ May 28, 2018

The Biggest Social Security Lies You've Believed
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ May 27, 2018

Conservative groups, congressional Republicans appear poised for another try at ObamaCare repeal
By Joseph Weber; Fox News ~ May 26, 2018

Health chief channels Trump's combative approach on drug prices
By Adam Cancryn; Politico ~ May 27, 2018

White House plans to release new tax cut proposal this summer
By Max Greenwood & Naomi Jagoda; The Hill ~ May 25, 2018

Reigniting Health Law Repeal Just Before Midterms? It Might Not Be That Far-Fetched.
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 25, 2018

Opinion: Protect air ambulance services that fill the health care access gap in rural America
From Richard Sherlock; The Hill ~ May 25, 2018

Opinion: When You Decide Your Retirement Is a Mistake
From Rodney Brooks; US News & World Report ~ May 25, 2018

Opinion: Senior advocates say new draft guide to Medicare distorts facts. Here’s what you need to know
From Philip Moeller; PBS News Hour ~ May 25, 2018

Senate health committee to hold hearing on Trump drug pricing plan
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 24, 2018

Opinion: If we want better health care at a lower cost, primary care must become a policy priority
From John Rother; The Hill ~ May 24, 2018

Health Insurance Coverage For Healthy Groceries? More Food-Based Interventions May Be Coming
From Tommy Tobin; Forbes ~ May 24, 2018

Insurers, small businesses praise move to kill Obamacare health insurance tax
By Kimberly Leonard; The Washington Examiner ~ May 24, 2018

Medicare Part B premiums devouring many retirees' Social Security increase, survey shows
By Sarah O'Brien; CNBC ~ May 24, 2018

Why Is Retirement So Stressful?
From Robert Laura; Forbes ~ May 24, 2018

Opinion: How To Democratize Healthcare: AI Gives Everyone The Very Best Doctor
From Vijay Pande; Forbes ~ May 23, 2018

CBO: ObamaCare premiums to rise 15 percent in 2019
By Rachel Roubein; The Hill ~ May 23, 2018

Drugmakers Blamed For Blocking Generics Have Jacked Up Prices And Cost U.S. Billions
By Sydney Lupkin; Kaiser Health News ~ May 23, 2018

Medicare's stealth price hike: Seniors are paying more for generics even though the drug prices haven't increased
From Michael Hiltzik: Los Angeles Times ~ May 23, 2018

I.R.S. Warns States Not to Circumvent State and Local Tax Cap
By Alan Rappeport & Jim Tankersley; The New York Times ~ May 23, 2018

Opinion: Injecting Common Sense Into Financial Markets
From Ike Brannon; Forbes ~ May 23, 2018

Closing The Gap For The Retirement Haves And Have-Nots
From Peter Fisher; Forbes ~ May 22, 2018

Trump administration policies could account for $1,000 average increase in ACA premiums
By Evan Sweeney; FierceHealthcare ~ May 22, 2018

Uninsured rate mostly unchanged in Trump's first year
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 22, 2018

Avoiding The IRA Waterfall: 4 Ways To Increase The After-Tax Value Of Your IRAs
From Bob Carlson; Forbes ~ May 22, 2018

HHS Chief Seeks To Rally Support For Trump’s Lackluster Drug Price Plan
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 21, 2018

Opinion: Government money should help solve this pension crisis
By Alicia H. Munnell; MarketWatch ~ May 21, 2018

Opinion: Why Trump’s plan will not cut drug prices
Economist – May 19, 2018

Trump’s Attempt to Shame Drugmakers Shows Medicare Costs Soaring
Yahoo.Com – May 21, 2018

Opinion: What Barbershops Can Teach About Delivering Health Care
From Aaron E. Carroll; The New York Times ~ May 21, 2018

Chained CPI Hits Social Security Through Taxation of Benefits
By Brenton Smith, FedSmith – May 21, 2018

The Drug Industry's Middlemen Are in the Hot Seat
By Clifton Leaf; Fortune ~ May 21, 2018

How to Age Well and Stay in Your Home
By Jane E. Brody; The New York Times ~ May 21, 2018

Opinion: Calling For A Blue-Ribbon Panel On The Retirement Crisis
From Chris Farrell; Forbes ~ May 21, 2018

Opinion: Without federal leadership, states must safeguard ACA markets
From Mike Kreidler & John Arensmeyer; The Hill ~ May 20, 2018

Trump official on defensive as critics scoff at drug plan
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 19, 2018

Why Your 2019 Social Security Increase Could Be the Biggest in Years
By Dan Caplinger; The Motley Fool ~ May 19, 2018

Let’s talk about the Big Book: Everything your family needs to know when you die
By Thomas Heath; The Washington Post ~ May 18, 2018

Naming Names: FDA Calls Out Drugmakers For Blocking Generics To Shame Them Into Better Behavior
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 18, 2018

FDA approves drug to prevent migraines
By Max Greenwood; The Hill ~ May 17, 2018

Opinion: Why Your IRA Is Likely At Risk... And How To Help Correct It
From Mark D. Kinney; Forbes ~ May 18, 2018

Nonprofit drug companies may cut rising generic prices, hospitals say
By Amy Norton, HDN; United Press International ~ May 17, 2018

Ryan: 'Compromise' in the works for controversial drug pricing bill
By Peter Sullivan ; The Hill ~ May 17, 2018

Some Union Retirees Could See Pension Benefits Cut 90%, PBGC Chief Warns
From Ted Knutson; Forbes ~ May 17, 2018

High Premiums A Political Hot Potato As Rates For Next Year Start To Come Out
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 17, 2018

Opinion: Dems in denial on why ObamaCare premiums are through the roof
From Betsy McCaughey; New York Post ~ May 16, 2018

7 Steps to Pay off Debt in Retirement
From Rachel Hartman; US News & World Report ~ May 17, 2018

FDA names drug companies that may 'game' the system to stall generics
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 17, 2018

Opinion: Trump Takes First Step Toward Cutting Prescription Drug Costs With 'American Patients First' Plan
From Robin Seaton Jefferson; Forbes ~ May 17, 2018

Automation, older workers to shape US workforce in 2020s
From Karen Harris & Andrew Schwedel; The Hill ~ May 17, 2018

Opinion: President Trump’s historic rescissions package is a welcome step to cut wasteful spending
From Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas); The Hill ~ May 16, 2018

Retirement Industry Officials Back Bipartisan Bills to Update ERISA
By Melanie Waddell; ThinkAdvisor ~ May 16, 2018

Graham working on new ObamaCare repeal bill
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 16, 2018

Court saga over Obamacare payments reaches end
By Tom Howell Jr. ; The Washington Times ~ May 16, 2018

Court rules Dem states can intervene in ObamaCare lawsuit
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ May 16, 2018

Vermont becomes first state to permit drug imports from Canada
By Rachana Pradhan; Politico ~ May 16, 2018

Trump's short-term insurance proposal could cost more than expected
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 16, 2018

9 Ways To Pay For Long-Term Care Without Buying Insurance
From Kerri Fivecoat-Campbel, NA; Forbes ~ May 16, 2018

Defending the 'middlemen' in the battle on drug prices
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 15, 2018

Trump Nominates McConnell and Chao’s Brother-In-Law to Lead Pension Agency
By Justin Sink & Toluse Olorunnipa; Bloomberg ~ May 15, 2018

Opinion: Can The Republicans Replace Obamacare Before The Next Election?
From John C. Goodman; Forbes ~ May 15, 2018

Azar Warns Pharma That Administration Will Be ‘Turning On The Pressure’ As He Defends President’s Drug Plan
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 15, 2018

PhRMA expresses 'serious concerns' with Trump drug pricing proposals
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 15, 2018

Apart From A Few ‘Sacrificial Lambs,’ Pharma Emerges From Trump’s Speech Largely Unscathed
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 14, 2018

This is what a death spiral looks like
From Catherine Rampell; The Washington Post ~ May 14, 2018

IRS may nix blue states' workaround on tax deduction caps
By Darla Mercado; CNBC ~ May 14, 2018

Trump targets Medicare, PBMs in plan to lower drug prices
By Mike Stankiewicz; FierceHealthcare ~ May 14, 2018

Trump health secretary pushes back against Medicare drug negotiation
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 14, 2018

A Major Social Security Change Is Coming in 2022
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ May 14, 2018

Opinion: Look in the Mirror, America, to See a Reason Drug Prices Are So High
From Max Nisen; Bloomberg ~ May 13, 2018

Opinion: The politics of pensions in America
From Joshua Gotbaum; The Hill ~ May 12, 2018

Carrying debt into retirement and past age 75 has become the new normal
By Russ Wiles; USA TODAY ~ May 12, 2018

Rescuing seniors and Part D from Congress
From Doug Badger & Grace-Marie Turner; The Hill ~ May 12, 2018

Opinion: Trump's Drug Pricing Reform Proposals May Be Politically Tepid But Are Eminently Sensible
From John Osborn; Forbes ~ May 12, 2018

Short-Term Plans Are Same Ones Obama Had For Eight Years, HHS Secretary Says In Face Of Criticism
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 11, 2018

6 Ways Trump's Drug Price Plan Could Lower Rx Costs
By Lisa L. Gill; Consumer Reports ~ May 11, 2018

What's Driving US Healthcare Costs? Stakeholders Weigh In
By Jaime Rosenberg; AJMC ~ May 10, 2018

When Credit Scores Become Casualties Of Health Care
By Shefali Luthra; Kaiser Health News ~ May 09, 2018

Senate GOP warms to Trump's rescissions package
By Jordain Carney; The Hill ~ May 08, 2018

GOP chairman in talks with Trump officials on more ObamaCare actions
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 08, 2018

Schumer: Dems will be 'relentless' in attacking GOP for premium hikes
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ May 08, 2018

Eye-Popping Premium Increases Give First Glimpse Of Next Year’s Marketplace
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 08, 2018

Democrats See Opportunity In Trump’s Inaction To Reclaim High Drug Prices As Winning Issue
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 08, 2018

Medicare Beneficiaries Feel The Pinch When They Can’t Use Drug Coupons
By Michelle Andrews; Kaiser Health News ~ May 08, 2018

More Americans expect to work until 70; there are benefits
By Sarah Skidmore Sell; The Associated Press ~ May 08, 2018

Pelosi says she wants to increase taxes
By Steve Goldstein; MarketWatch ~ May 08, 2018

The Health 202: Guess what's in the farm bill? Funding for health plans pushed by Trump
By Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post – May 7, 2018

Today’s Special: Obamacare Menu Labeling Rules Ushered In
By Phil Galewitz; Kaiser Health News ~ May 07, 2018

‘Pharma Folks Are Nervous’ As Trump Gears Up For Major Speech On Curbing Drug Prices
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 07, 2018

Take control of your health care (exert your patient autonomy)
From Carolyn A. Bernstein, MD, FAHS; Harvard Health ~ May 07, 2018

What happens when your pension fund runs out of money
By Katie Lobosco; CNNMoney ~ May 07, 2018

As election looms, policymakers work overtime to finish killing ObamaCare
From Sarah Lee & Justin Haskins; The Hill ~ May 07, 2018

IRS Aggressively Enforcing Employer Mandate Despite Trump’s Promise That Health Law Is All But Dead
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ May 07, 2018

Opinion: Medically tailored food is the future of health care
From Karen Pearl; The Hill ~ May 07, 2018

Three Things People Often Get Wrong About Social Security, And Why It's Critical To Get It Right
From Beau Henderson; Forbes ~ May 07, 2018

Social Security Beneficiaries Top 62,000,000 for First Time
By Terence P. Jeffrey; CNS News ~ May 07, 2018

FDA chief Gottlieb to pharma: Those rebates you love to hate may soon count as kickbacks
By Arlene Weintraub; FiercePharma ~ May 04, 2018

House Dems call for a vote on ObamaCare stabilization bill
By Nathaniel Weixel ; The Hill ~ May 04, 2018

Trump to deliver major address on drug prices, but advocates predict small steps
By John Fritze; USA TODAY ~ May 04, 2018

DC execs told not to worry about fiduciary rule decision
By Meaghan Kilroy & Robert Steyer; Pensions & Investments ~ May 04, 2018

Blame our politicians for the retirement savings problem
From Andrew Biggs; The Hill ~ May 04, 2018

Trump likely to target Medicare in quest for lower drug prices
By Mike Stankiewicz; FierceHealthcare ~ May 04, 2018

Opinion: The Social Security Trust Fund Is Real - But So What?
From Elizabeth Bauer; Forbes ~ May 05, 2018

Opinion: A New Snapshot Of Older Adults In The U.S.
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ May 04, 2018

Opinion: Social Security Administration should stop closing field offices
From Max Richtman; The Hill ~ May 04, 2018

FDA chief hints at changes to drug rebates ahead of Trump speech
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 03, 2018

The myth of outliving your retirement savings
From Gail MarksJarvis; Reuters ~ May 03, 2018

Your right to choose restored by health mandate repeal
From Dr. Roger D. Klein; The Hill ~ May 02, 2018

Price walks back warning on ObamaCare individual mandate
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ May 02, 2018

Opinion: Relieving Pension Tension?
From Olivia Mitchell; Forbes ~ May 02, 2018

Court refuses to let states, AARP intervene in Obama-era financial rule case
By Lydia Wheeler; The Hill ~ May 02, 2018

HHS secretary: Trump drug pricing plan will go 'much further' than budget proposal
By Rachel Roubein; The Hill ~ May 02, 2018

Medicare costs could rise by more than 200 percent for these retirees
By Darla Mercado; CNBC ~ May 02, 2018

Opinion: People need fair insurance coverage in a medical emergency
From Dr. Paul Kivela; The Hill ~ May 02, 2018

NIH seeks health data of 1 million people, with genetic privacy suddenly an issue
By Lenny Bernstein; The Washington Post ~ May 01, 2018

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