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Insider’s Report: House-Passed Budget Resolution Holds Promise for Older Americans
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Last week the U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget resolution that had already passed out of the Senate that includes provisions to lower prescription drug costs and expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision care. The House-passed budget resolution sets up a budget reconciliation process to enact these needed benefit improvements. This process will take place this fall. As a reminder, all it will take is a simple majority to pass this bill.
Some lawmakers have already expressed skepticism about the bill’s $3.5 trillion price tag and may try to reduce it. If the overall amount of the spending plan is reduced, some of our priorities for older Americans may get squeezed. For instance, a compromise on Medicare expansion may involve more modest dental, hearing and vision coverage — or the addition of one of those (most likely dental) coverages at the expense of the others. “We’re looking at the most we can get (for seniors) given the current political circumstances,” says NCPSSM Director of Government Relations & Policy Dan Adcock.
Amid the uncertainty and likely compromises, though, it’s important to keep in mind that progress on any of these priorities would be historic. This is the first time in 12 years that both the President and the majority party in Congress are committed to a long-overdue widening of America’s social safety net. In the wake of a Great Recession, growing wealth inequality, soaring health care and prescription prices, and a devastating pandemic, Americans of all ages should rightly expect to see these expansions finally become law.
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| Good Bills |
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The National Committee endorses the "Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act" (H.R. 2337), introduced by U.S. Representative Richard Neal (MA-01). This important bill improves the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP, which results in cuts to the Social Security benefits of retirees who spent part of their working lives in employment not covered by Social Security. H.R. 2337 creates a new proportional formula for the purpose of calculating the amount of the benefit offset and provides meaningful WEP relief to current retirees. The legislation also includes a benefit guarantee so that no current or future retirees can be worse off as a result of the bill.
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| Ask Web |
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Our resident Social Security expert, Webster Phillips — a Senior Policy Analyst for the National Committee and a 31-year veteran at the Social Security Administration — is here to answer your questions about Social Security.
You can either search our archives for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns or submit your question here.
This week's question is: Do the earnings of your final ten years of employment have any special bearing on your Social Security benefits once you retire?
Click here to read the answer.
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| Take Our Poll |
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Should Congress pass a final $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill that includes measures that will meaningfully lower prescription drug costs and expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision care?
Take our poll now!
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Ask Web
Whether you’re currently retired or approaching retirement, we can help answer your questions and provide valuable advice on Social Security. |
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Join Now
Your support sustains our campaigns in Washington to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. |
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Rebuild the Middle Class
Learn how we’re fighting to rebuild the middle class for a stronger America where everyone has a chance to thrive. |
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| Medicare On TV: What Is Joe Namath Talking About? |
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It seems like you can’t spend more than five minutes in front of a television set without seeing a celebrity talk about Medicare these days. But what are they talking about? To answer this question, you have to dive deep into a couple of important concepts. (August 24, 2021, Forbes, Justin Brock)
Read More →
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| Here's how we'll lower the cost of prescription drugs |
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"So here's a good idea …" That was the opening line of one of the first television ads I ran as a candidate for the U.S. Senate. The idea? Lowering prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate the prices of drugs for seniors. (August 23, 2021, Star Tribune, Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN))
Read More →
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