Did you know that AARP offers a host of benefits for its members? Here are just a few:
Dental plans through Delta Dental Hearing care by Hear USA Vision discounts by EyeMed (at participating retailers) Discounts at a variety of restaurants AARP auto insurance and roadside assistance Hotel and car rental discounts.... And so much more! Check out all the discounts here: http://aarp2831chapter.weebly.com/
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Take the "States of Taxation" quiz from AARP and test your knowledge of how states tax people. No-one likes paying taxes but some states make it easier on tax payers with no sales tax.
How does your state measure up? This story was updated to reflect the President's action.
En español | The president has signed into law an AARP-backed bill that requires the federal government to develop a strategy to support the 40 million Americans who care for a loved one. The measure — the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act — directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create an advisory council charged with making recommendations on the strategy to support family caregivers. The blueprint, which must be developed within 18 months, would address financial and workplace issues, respite care and other ways to support caregivers. AARP worked closely with the bill’s sponsors to develop the legislation and with lawmakers to get the measure passed in an effort to help the nation’s family caregivers. “Family caregivers are the backbone of our care system in America,” said Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP’s chief advocacy and engagement officer. “We need to make it easier for them to coordinate care for their loved ones, get information and resources and take a break so they can rest and recharge." Every year, family caregivers provide about 37 billion hours of unpaid help for their loved ones. Caregivers often are responsible for managing a loved one’s medications and other health needs, as well as preparing meals and doing housework. Many provide this care while working full time and raising their own families. About 32 percent of family caregivers provide at least 21 hours of care a week. LeaMond said that thanks to the efforts of the bipartisan bill's champions — Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Reps. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) — “the RAISE Family Caregivers Act will help address the challenges family caregivers face.” Medicare beneficiaries with high prescription drug bills were looking forward to seeing lower out-of-pocket costs a year earlier than expected under the bipartisan budget agreement that President Trump signed into law last month. But now big pharmaceutical companies are trying to persuade Congress to rescind that provision of the law. Right now, Medicare Part D beneficiaries pay a larger percentage of their medication costs once the total tab reaches a certain threshold. That’s due to an odd provision in the prescription drug plan called the coverage gap, or doughnut hole. “Drug companies want to roll back this progress before the ink is dry” on the budget law, says David Certner, AARP legislative policy director for government affairs. “They are already out in force lobbying Congress to keep drug prices high and protect their profits.” AARP is urging its members to contact their lawmakers and demand that they protect the progress that has been made to lower drug costs for older Americans. Under the Affordable Care Act, the doughnut hole has been steadily closing and was scheduled to be eliminated in 2020. The budget law closes the coverage gap next year by requiring drug manufacturers to pay more of the cost of enrollees' drug expenses in the coverage gap. This permanent change will lower out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries with high prescription medication costs. In 2018 beneficiaries enter the doughnut hole once they have spent $3,750 on their prescriptions; then they must pay 35 percent of the cost of brand-name drugs and 44 percent of generics. They’ll pay that share until their out-of-pocket costs reach $5,000. Once they reach that limit, they exit the doughnut hole and pay no more than 5 percent of their prescription drug costs for the rest of the year. Some 28 percent — nearly 11 million — of Part D enrollees reached the doughnut hole in 2014. Of those, 3.4 million spent enough out of pocket for their drugs to reach the catastrophic level. Patients with chronic illnesses such as leukemia or lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, viral hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, cancer and schizophrenia are among those most likely to have high drug costs. Congress must pass another budget bill by midnight on March 23 to keep the federal government running. The pharmaceutical companies are urging Congress to revise this drug provision as part of that legislation. “Congress needs to do their job and make prescription drugs more accessible and more affordable, not less” says Certner. |
The St. Lawrence County Chapter (SLCC) #2831 is a community of advocacy and volunteers whose purpose is to 1) promote at the local level the priorities, programs and policies specific for the benefit of our seniors, 2) maximize member engagement in a broad menu of services, information and educational activities, 3) demonstrate the contributions and potential of people who are 50+ to encourage their full participation in contemporary life, 4) create fundraising opportunities to achieve self-sufficiency, and 5) stimulate public interest in a variety of issues.
Past Posts:
November 2019
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