NRLN Villages Chapter Updates

NRLN President Discusses NRLN ‘Grand Bargain Proposal to Save Social Security and Medicare at Villages Chapter’s Aug. 23 Meeting

Members of the NRLN Villages Chapter were the first to hear NRLN President Bill Kadereit’s presentation on the NRLN’s “Grand Bargain” Proposal to Save Social Security and Medicare for the next 75 years. His presentation was on August 23 in the Lincoln Theater at The Villages Laurel Manor Recreation Center.

Congress blocked payroll tax hikes from 1983 to 2018 (35 years), strangling the life out of the Social Security and Medicare programs. Kicking the can down the road, avoiding new taxes, allowed many politicians to be reelected on a “no new taxes” platform.

By 2034, Social Security’s current $3 trillion in asset reserves will be completely depleted. The program will not go bankrupt because workers and employers continue to pay payroll tax on earned income. However, projections are that benefits would be cut between 17% - 21%.

By 2029, the Medicare trust fund for Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance (HI) will be exhausted. Payroll taxes will only cover about 88% of Medicare Part A (hospital) costs. Unlike Part A, beneficiaries pay premiums for Part B (doctors) coverage. But these premiums account for only 23% of the program’s costs. The rest comes out of the federal Treasury.

The goal of the NRLN’s proposal is to make pertinent financial information about Social Security and Medicare available to seniors and to propose and advocate to members of Congress a nonpartisan view to insure how both programs can remain viable for at least the next 75 years by acting to implement easily understood proposals.

The NRLN Grand Bargain proposal is to close the Social Security and Medicare HI 75-year combined deficit gaps of 3.66%, and help fund federal Medicare B and D, and possibly Medicaid and CHIP obligations by these actions:

2.19% + .39% + 1.08% = 3.66%

Savings would be sequestered to protect them from being spent on other federal discretionary programs. Funds would be applied 1st to close the Medicare HI and Social Security combined deficit gaps totaling 3.66% and then be allocated to reduce the Medicare B and then the Medicare D, and then Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) federal obligations.

CMS DESTROYING TRADITIONAL MEDICARE!

The NRLN has been watching with serious concern the actions of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS is using its “innovation center” to undermine traditional Medicare. It is incentivizing insurance companies that receive billions a year in taxpayer subsidies for their Medicare Advantage plans to compete for beneficiaries in traditional Medicare Part A (hospitals) and Part B (doctors). Last year at least two insurers were sued for cheating to collect $400 million in incentive subsidies. Why do insurers deserve subsidies paid for with our payroll taxes?

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 gave birth to the Medicare Advantage program with the idea that privatization would cost less than traditional Medicare. However, the federal government pays more for a participant in an insurance company’s Medicare Advantage plan than it does to provide traditional Medicare for a beneficiary. About 21.4 million people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with 37.7 million in traditional Medicare.

In its announcement this month CMS is going even further to allow insurance companies to attract Americans turning 65 and lure individuals away from traditional Medicare. CMS expanded how it defines the “primarily health-related” benefits that insurers are allowed to include in their 2019 Medicare Advantage policies. Air conditioners for people with asthma, home modifications, rides to medical appointments, healthy groceries, home-delivered meals, etc. are expected be among the new benefits added only to Medicare Advantage coverage when new federal rules take effect next year. There are no similar new benefits and subsidies for Medicare Part A and B.

Also, CMS has announced that it will increase payments in 2019 to insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans by an average of 3.4% next year, allowing them to offer more benefits. That’s well above the 1.84% bump the CMS initially proposed and higher than the 2.95% increase for 2018.

CMS SUBSIDIES CREATING A “PREMIUM SUPPORT” PLAN

It is highly possible that the actions of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) described in the April 11 posting is a deliberate act to privatize Medicare! No action is expected in Congress this year to try to privatize Medicare, but neither has there been any opposition in Congress to CVS paying subsidies to Medicare Advantage insurers and allowing additional benefits to lure those age 65 and older into Medicare Advantage and away from traditional Medicare. However, the CMS subsidies of 2.95% in 2018 and 3.4% in 2019 are affectively creating a “premium support” plan and thus privatization.

A faction in Congress has been trying for years to privatize Medicare, first with a “voucher” plan, and recently with a “premium support” plan. The “premium support” plan is insurance companies’ scam to get federal subsidies that would privatize and completely destroy Medicare. The plan is to refund insurers who would lowball premiums but get to take in huge multi-billion subsidies. The result is that traditional Medicare Part A and Part B will appear less competitive when actually they are a better deal for taxpayers. ELIMINATING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDICARE PART A AND PART B IS THE PLAN!

The NRLN believes that the faction who advocates the “premium support” plan and CMS’ subsidies undermining traditional Medicare is wrong. Respond to the NRLN Action Alert by emailing the NRLN’s sample letter, with your thoughts added, to tell your Representative, Senators and President Trump to place a priority on traditional Medicare beneficiaries, not insurance companies who use Medicare Advantage as a “cash cow” and want even larger subsidies offered by a “premium support” plan. Go to www.nrln.org and click on the red flashing icon “Respond to an Action Alert”.

DANGER LURKS: REAL FACTS SENIORS OF ALL AGES NEED TO BE AWARE OF!

Are seniors over age 65 aware that privatization of Medicare is underway now and will implode Medicare A & B plans, making them prohibitively expensive? No!

Make Your Voice Heard With Members of Congress

You can contact Congress in many ways-- click here to see how!

NEWS FOR THE VILLAGES MEMBERS


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Opinion: Socialized Medicine — The Orphan Of The New Deal
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Opinion: Replacing the 4% Rule For Retirees
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Opinion: How Taxes And Inflation Do A Number On Your Retirement Earnings
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Opinion: 6 Reasons Why You Need An Estate Plan
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Opinion: 7 Surprising Ways Retirement Will Change Your Life. Retirement alters the structure of your days, your friendships and even your marriage.
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Opinion: 8 Misconceptions About Health Care Costs in Retirement
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Drug company CEO calls 400 percent price hike 'moral requirement'
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Opinion: Trump is wrong, Dems are fighting to save Medicare and Social Security
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IRS Warns Retirees: Act Now To Avoid Surprise Tax Bill Next April
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Mayo Clinic, other hospitals launching generic drug maker Civica Rx

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Paul Ryan: House to Make Individual Tax Cuts Permanent
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By Michael Erman; Reuters ~ Sep 04, 2018

Improved mortality means Social Security benefiting higher earners more – CRR brief
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Surprise! Your Medicare Part D Premium Could Drop in 2019
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Trump calls for path to open multiple employer plans, mandatory retirement distribution changes
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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.
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White House retirement security announcement expected Friday
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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)?
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Opinion: How to reset retirement plans to weather a downturn
From Liz Weston; Startribune ~ Aug 25, 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

Hospital Sleuths Unearth Surprise: Knee Surgery Bills Are 5 Times Its Cost.
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4 ways the Trump administration wants to change Medicare
By Tami Luhby; CNN ~ Aug 22, 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
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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opinion: New parents face the 'social insecurity' of our time, so let's help
By Marco Rubio and Ann Wagner, USA Today – Aug. 1, 2018

99% of Americans don’t make this easy money-saving choice on health care
By Kari Paul; MarketWatch ~ Jul 31, 2018

Opinion: How Paul McCartney, Betty White and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Are Changing The Face of Retirement
From Megan Gorman; Forbes ~ Jul 31, 2018

Social Security Keeps Losing Buyer Power, and Seniors Are Suffering for It
By Maurie Backman; The Motley Fool ~ Jul 31, 2018

Scam robocallers are getting creative—and even fooling tech-savvy millennials
By Elisabeth Buchwald; MarketWatch ~ Jul 30, 2018

Secrets to Successfully Aging in Place
From Bob Carlson; Forbes ~ Jul 29, 2018

This Is Great News for Social Security's 2019 COLA
By Sean Williams, Motley Fool – July 29, 2018

Medicare for all is a socialist’s dream — and an American Nightmare
From Dr. Deane Waldman; The Hill ~ Jul 28, 2018

Here's When Congress Will Fix Social Security
By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Jul 28, 2018

Meet the Rebate, the New Villain of High Drug Prices
By Katie Thomas; The New York Times ~ Jul 27, 2018

Opinion: 'Tax Reform 2.0' And How The GOP's Deal With The Devil Could Backfire
From Jeffrey Levine; Forbes ~ Jul 26, 2018

House Dems introduce bill to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices
By Peter Sullivan; The Hill ~ Jul 25, 2018

Senate panel approves bill banning 'gag clauses' in pharmacy contracts
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Jul 25, 2018

Opinion: Social Security fixes that would help widows, the oldest old, and low earners
From Richard Eisenberg; MarketWatch ~ Jul 24, 2018

Tax reform 2.0 can alleviate Americans' chronic saving problem
From Ernest Christian & Chris Edwards; The Hill ~ Jul 24, 2018

Congress: Support access to palliative care for aging Americans
From Edo Banach; The Hill ~ Jul 23, 2018

Lowering drug prices is a political move that makes both Trump and drug companies 'look good,' says analyst
By Kellie Ell; CNBC ~ Jul 21, 2018

Think you'll live until age 95? You'd better save $100,000 extra for retirement
By Christy Bieber, TMF; Coloradoan ~ Jul 21, 2018

Quality, not quantity, should guide Medicare coverage for heart valve disease treatment
From Susan Peschin ; The Hill ~ Jul 21, 2018

Got Medicare Advantage? Prepare for New Perks — and New Questions.
By Paula Span; The New York Times ~ Jul 20, 2018

Swiss, German drugmakers join U.S. price freeze
By John Miller; Reuters ~ Jul 20, 2018

Merck Is Latest Drugmaker To Lower Some Prices, Earning Political Points As White House Prepares Cost Plan
From KHN Morning Briefing; Kaiser Health News ~ Jul 20, 2018

Social Security Issues Warning About Scams Similar To Those IRS Phone Scams
By Kelly Phillips Erb; Forbes ~ Jul 20, 2018

Trump administration to explore importing prescription drugs
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ Jul 19, 2018

Trump's Drug Plan Picks Up Momentum as Merck Lowers Some Prices
By Anna Edney; Bloomberg ~ Jul 18, 2018

Opinion: Changing The Way Medicare Pays Doctors
From Howard Gleckman; Forbes ~ Jul 19, 2018

First it was Pfizer. Now Novartis has frozen drug prices in the US
By Alanna Petrof; CNNMoney ~ Jul 18, 2018

Winning Trump’s praise was easy for Pfizer. Wall Street and the Hill? Not so much
By Arlene Weintraub; FiercePharma ~ Jul 18, 2018

A Growing Number of People Are Navigating Retirement Alone. This Woman Is Spearheading a Movement to Change That
By Elizabeth O'Brien; Money ~ Jul 18, 2018

Tax cuts 2.0: What we know so far
By Brittany De Lea; Fox Business ~ Jul 17, 2018

Opinion: 4 Regulations That Would Terrify U.S. Drug Companies Ahead Of The 2018 Midterms
From Robert Pearl, M.D.; Forbes ~ Jul 16, 2018

Cost of Individual Health Insurance Depends More Than Ever On Where You Live
By Donna Rosato; Consumer Reports ~ Jul 16, 2018

Opinion: Study: To Avoid Alzheimer’s, Pay Attention To Your Blood Pressure
From Evie Fordham; The Daily Caller ~ Jul 16, 2018

Opinion: How Hidden Costs Can Dent Your Retirement Income
From John Wasik; Forbes ~ Jul 16, 2018

Retirees Go Back to School to Live Out Golden Years on Campus
By Martin Z Braun; Bloomberg ~ Jul 10, 2018

How Trump can lower drug prices

Medicare Part D Struggles with Opioid Epidemic, Overprescribing Concerns
By Todd Shepherd; The Washington Free Beacon ~ Jul 15, 2018

FDA joins 22 countries' recall of common heart drug
By Jen Christensen; CNN ~ Jul 13, 2018

Opinion: IRS Unlocks The 'Door' For High-Income Savers
From Jeffrey Levine; Forbes ~ Jul 13, 2018

Opinion: Trump Alone Can Cut Taxes
From Kimberley A. Strassel; The Wall Street Journal ~ Jul 13, 2018

Opinion: Trump order risks ‘politicization’ of administrative, mostly Social Security, judiciary
From Joe Davidson; The Washington Post ~ Jul 13, 2018

Trump orders DOJ task force to investigate wide range of fraud
By Ed Adamczyk; United Press International ~ Jul 11, 2018

Top Dem demands more details on pricing deal between Pfizer and Trump
By Jessie Hellmann; The Hill ~ Jul 11, 2018

Trump calls out Pfizer for raising drug prices
By Nathaniel Weixel; The Hill ~ Jul 09, 2018

Choking on the Cost of 'Medicare for All'
From Sally Pipes; Forbes ~ Jul 09, 2018

Study: Paid family leave proposal would accelerate Social Security's insolvency
By Naomi Jagoda; The Hill ~ Jul 09, 2018

What Does a Drug Cost? It Depends on Where You Live.
By Katie Thomas; The New York Times ~ Jul 06, 2018

How To Fix Social Security For Vulnerable Americans
From Richard Eisenberg; Forbes ~ Jul 05, 2018

Pfizer hikes prices on 100 drugs
By Avery Anapol; The Hill ~ Jul 04, 2018

Tax planning 2018: Confusion under the new tax law can be costly
By Ray Martin; CBS News ~ Jul 03, 2018

Opinion: House Republicans are coming for your 401(k)
From Paul Bland; The Hill ~ Jun 30, 2018

Commentary: Seven Social Security Myths
By Chrles Blahous, Economics21.Org – June 26, 2018

Social Security Has Been Swelled, Not Looted
By James D. Agresti, Foundation for Economic Education – June 26

Congress shouldn’t silence American workers at the behest of corporate interests
From Gary Retelny; The Hill ~ Jun 27, 2018

GOP chairman envisions tax reform 2.0 as a package of bills
By Naomi Jagoda; The Hill ~ Jun 26, 2018

Opinion: Fixing Social Security starts with us, the voters
By Brenton Smith, MarketWatch – June 25, 2018

When a Health Insurer Also Wants to Be a Hospice Company
By Reed Abelson; The New York Times ~ Jun 22, 2018

Medicare expands offer to reverse late enrollment penalties
By Mark Miller, RNS; St. Louis Post-Dispatch ~ Jun 23, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here to view previous reports of Villages Chapter to POA.

Villages Chapter Report – August 2018

NRLN Action Alert: Social Security Not Meant to Pay for Family Leave

On August 2, the NRLN issued an Action Alert asking members to email the NRLN’s sample letter to Senators and Representatives to tell them Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Ann Wagner (MO-02) are misguided to introduce the Economic Security for New Parents Act. The bill would give parents the option to pull a portion of their future Social Security benefits to finance paid family leave.

The NRLN believes Social Security was not meant to pay for family leave. Workers pay into Social Security throughout their careers and when they reach the eligibility age, Social Security should be there for them, not delayed because of a decision they made years earlier to take parental leave.

Constituent of Senator Rubio or Representative Wagner, were asked edit the sample letter to direct specific comments to the Senator or Representative.

Summer Issue of the NRLN FOCUS Newsletter Published

On August 8 an email was sent to NRLN members inviting them to go to the NRLN website at www.nrln.org to read the summer issue of the NRLN FOCUS Newsletter. Articles in the 8-page newsletter include:

NRLN President and Executive Director Gained Feedback on ‘Grand Bargain’ Proposal

Bill Kadereit, NRLN President, and Alyson Parker, NRLN Executive Director, spent August 14-16, in Washington, DC meetings with organizations to gain feedback about the NRLN’s “Grand Bargain” proposal to save Social Security and Medicare for the next 75 years. There were sessions with leaders of the Alliance for Retired Americans (AFL-CIO); American Benefits Council; U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and AARP.

NRLN President Was Speaker at Villages Chapter’s August 23 Meeting

NRLN President Bill Kadereit was the speaker at the NRLN Villages Chapter meeting on August 23 in the Lincoln Theater at The Villages Laurel Manor Recreation Center. His presentation was on the NRLN’s “Grand Bargain” proposal to save Social Security and Medicare for the next 75 years.

Read the item about his presentation at the top of the left column on this webpage. For more details about the NRLN’s Grand Bargain proposal go to https://www.nrln.org/facebookposts.html and read the six-article series that were published on www.facebook.com/NRLN1.

The next Villages Chapter meeting will be on November 29, 2018. The agenda will be a discussion about the NRLN’s September Fly-in to Washington, DC.

August NRLN Articles Published on www.Facebook/NRLN1

August 7 - ARTICLE #6 OF 6: FACTS ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND “GRAND BARGAIN” PROPOSAL
August 17 - OWING FEDERAL TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY IMPACTING MORE SENIORS EACH YEAR
August 21 - MOST MILLENNIALS NOT COUNTING ON SOCIAL SECURITY
August 28 - SENATE PASSES AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE DRUG PRICE IN ADS

NRLN 2018 Survey Had 5,751 Participants

The NRLN 2018 survey which opened on May 14 closed on June 17 with 5,751 participants. The NRLN’s previous survey was in 2016.

Among the 2018 survey participants 90% were older than age 65; 9% were age 55 to 64 and 1% were age 54 or younger. Twenty-three percent have been retired for over 20 years; 26% 16 to 20 years; 19% 11 to 15 years; 17% 6 to 10 years; 11% less than 5 years and 4% are not yet retired.

Responders to the survey retired from or are still working for 442 companies, public entities or self-employed. All 50 states and District of Columbia are represented in the survey’s results. Eighty-one percent of the responders were salaried retirees (such as supervisory, non-supervisory and technical-professionals). Formerly union represented retirees (CWA, IBEW, UAW, airline unions, etc.) were 13% of the survey participants. The balance of the responders were spouses of a retiree, surviving spouse of a retiree and currently employed.

Details on the responses to the survey will be published in the summer issue of the NRLN FOCUS newsletter. NRLN members will be sent an email to notify them when the newsletter has been posted on www.nrln.org.

349 RESIDENTS RESPOND TO FUTURE DIRECTIONS SURVEY SPONSORED BY NRLN VILLAGES CHAPTER

The NRLN Villages Chapter works with the National Retirees Legislative Network to protect pension and health care benefits. The NRLN Villages Chapter Leadership Team thanks those who responded to the survey. The results of the survey can be seen here.

The NRLN and AREF Partnership

The National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) created the American Retirees Education Foundation (AREF) in 2014 to develop whitepapers and advocate policy recommendations for retirement security to federal policymakers, constituency groups, the media, and the general public. The AREF, an IRS 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, researches and produces whitepapers and other materials and can use them to educate NRLN members and other advocates on how to present legislative proposals.

The AREF can advocate proposals to members of Congress and federal agencies but once a proposal is introduced as a bill, only the NRLN, an IRS 501(c)4 non-exempt organization, can lobby for passage of a bill. The AREF can advocate but not lobby. This allows members to make tax-deductible donations that are accounted for separately from NRLN contributions. To learn more about the AREF and NRLN go to www.seniorsaref.org and www.nrln.org.

NRLN and AREF Revenue

Seventy-five percent of NRLN revenue comes from non-deductible individual contributions. The other twenty-five percent of NRLN revenue comes from company retiree association dues paid to the NRLN.  NRLN Chapters are supported by a portion of contributions made by Chapter members. For individual contributions to the NRLN go to http://www.nrln.org/JoinUs.htm. Either click on the link to printout the contributions form and mail it with a check or click on the link to make a credit card contribution.

All AREF revenue comes from individual tax-deductible donations. A donation to the AREF may be made by going to the AREF website at www.seniorsaref.org and clicking on the “Donations” tab.

The NRLN annual solicitation to NRLN Villages Chapter members will be in late January 2017.  However, anyone can make voluntary non-deductible contributions to the NRLN or tax-deductible donations to the AREF at any time. 

  Suggestions and comments about this website should be addressed to webmaster@nrln.org. Last updated: September 19, 2018