Since 06-01-05
Social Security and Medicare Advisor Email Newsletter
Since 06-01-05
From:
Waspscpo@aol.com [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2005 4:03 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: Social Security & Medicare Advisor Email Newsletter
Here's "THE SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE ADVISOR" E-mail Newsletter
that you requested from TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL).
http://www.tscl.org
This is your e-mailed copy of the Internet issue 10#5 of "The Social Security &
Medicare Advisor." "The Advisor" is a Senior Citizens League supporter benefit
covered by voluntary membership dues; no subscription payment is necessary. I
hope you enjoy this edition and welcome your comments.
Mary Johnson, EditorP.S. You may also read the full articles on our website by
clicking here
http://www.tscl.org/CurrentIssue.asp.
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June 2005 Volume 10#5 Internet Issue
TSCL -- Serving Seniors for 10 Years
Call to Action!
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1. 15% Medicare Part B Premium Increase Exceeds Estimates --
TSCL Concerns Grow Over Senior Costs Under New Medicare Drug Law
Medicare Part B premiums will take another hefty jump next year. According to
the most recent government estimates, Medicare Part B premiums are expected to
rise 15% to $89.20 per month in 2006. This would make the second year in a row
that the Part B premium will increase $11 or more per month. In January 2005 the
monthly premium rose by a record $11.60 to $78.20 per month. In 2004 and 2005
Medicare premiums jumped an incredible 31% and according to the 2005 Medicare
Trustees report, there will be significant increases in the next few years.
Click here to read the complete article:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102436.asp
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2. Legislative Update: Do We Have the Wrong Idea About Social Security Trust
Fund?
By the TSCL Legislative Team
Why doesn't the government just repay the money that has been borrowed from the
Trust Fund? This is a question many of you are asking. Click here to read the
article in its entirety:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102437.asp
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3. Do You Qualify for Government-Provided Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance?
Watch your mailbox this summer. According to government estimates, some 14
million Medicare beneficiaries - about one out of every three - are eligible for
substantial additional assistance to pay for prescription drugs under the new
Medicare drug law. In order to determine whether you are eligible, the Social
Security Administration is mailing 20 million applications to people who might
qualify. To read the rest of this article, click the following:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102438.asp
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4. Notch Bulletin: Medicaid Cuts Would Impact Heavily on Many Notch Babies
Congress is debating cuts to Medicaid that could impact heavily on Notch Babies.
Medicaid is the joint state and federal program that supplies health care to
low-income seniors, disabled and children. The amount of the cuts under
consideration would be roughly equivalent to the cost of extending a tax cut on
capital gains and dividends - the bulk of which benefits about only 4% of
American households with incomes over $200,000. To read the full article, click
here:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102439.asp
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5. Congressional Corner: Social Security Reform
By Representative Mike Doyle (PA) Social Security is a hot topic in Congress
these days, and with good reason. The Baby Boom generation is reaching
retirement age, and that demographic change will affect most aspects of American
society. Click here to read the full article:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102440.asp
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6. TSCL Member Benefits
The Benefits of Membership in TSCL!
By Garlette Dunkley, Member Services Coordinator RxSavings Plus. Save up to 55%
on prescription drugs. For information, call 1- 877 -673-3688 or visit them
online at
www.advancerx.com. To read the rest of this article, click here:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102441.asp
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7. My Social Security Number is 000-000-000
TSCL Asks Why Is Our Government Accepting This? More and more immigrants
apparently are receiving credit for Social Security based on unauthorized work
while illegal. Incredible as it may sound, a new report from the General
Accountability Office (GAO) says that the Social Security Administration (SSA)
is holding on file some 8.9 million earnings reports with the Social Security
number of 000-00-000. Click the following to read the rest of this article:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102442.asp
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8. Ask the Advisor: What Proposals Does TSCL Support to Protect Social
Security's Financing?
Q: I am against privatization. A few years ago friends who were depending on
income from investments to live on in their retirement were forced to cut back
drastically as interest rates and stocks dropped. Bush keeps saying "you can
pass it on to your children," but the only way you can do that is if you die
before you retire. In order to make sure you didn't outlive your income, private
account holders would have to purchase an annuity. What proposals does TSCL
support to improve Social Security's financing? For the response, click here:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102443.asp
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9. Social Security & Medicare Questions
I teach high school, but I was an engineer for 10 years and paid into Social
Security. I have California STRS (State Teachers' Retirement System)
contributions deducted from my paycheck. I have been told that I will get all of
my STRS benefits but only a portion of the Social Security when I retire. What
is going on? Click here for the answer:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102444.asp
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10. Social Security Trustees Estimate 2006 COLA 2%
TSCL Fights COLA Cuts For Social Security ReformSeniors will get little help
from their Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) next year to cover the expected jump
in Medicare costs. The Social Security Trustees recently estimated that the COLA
paid on January 1, 2006 would be about 2% to 2.6%, hardly enough to keep up with
a 15% Medicare Part B premium and deductible increase. Nevertheless, despite the
low COLAs in recent years, Congress is considering some Social Security reform
proposals that include provisions to cut COLAs. Click the following to read the
rest of this article:
http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/102445.asp
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)