Budget Agreement Averts Immediate Crisis, But Threats To Seniors Still Loom

The U.S. House and Senate Passed Legislation on Last Week to End the Government Shutdown and Stop the Country From Hitting Its Debt Ceiling. President Obama Immediately Signed the Bill into Law Before a Default Could Ensue.  The Agreement Contains Four Elements: The Federal Government Will Be Funded  Through January 15th, 2014 at Sequestration Levels; The Debt Limit is Extended Until February 7th,  2014; A House-Senate Budget Conference will be Established to Come Up with Long-Term Spending Plans by December 13th, 2013 (However, There Will Be No Automatic Enforcement Mechanism Should a Conference Report Not Be Reached); and Income Verification Steps Will Be Added for Recipients of Subsidies Under Obamacare’s Newly-Established Health Care Exchanges.  The Bill, known as H.R. 2775, Passed the Senate 81-to-18 and the House 285-to-144.  No Democrats in Either House Voted Against It. A majority of Senate Republicans Voted for the Bill, while a Majority of House Republicans Voted Against It.  The Senate Roll Call is at http://tinyurl.com/mzmzluy, and the House Roll Call Can Be Found at http://tinyurl.com/lbz73tb.  Also Last Week, both the House and Senate Appointed Conferees to the Budget Conference to Come Up With a Plan to Cut the Deficit Before a December 13th Deadline.  The Budget Conference Brings With It Serious Potential Threats to Social Security and Medicare.  If You Have Not Already Sent a Message Telling Your U.S. Representative and Senators Not To Cut Social Security or Medicare as Part of the Budget Conference, Click On http://tinyurl.com/l9zrmgj.  “There Is ‘Real’ Danger Ahead of a ‘Grand Bargain’ That Would Cut Seniors’ Social Security and Medicare Benefits, Giving Us More Reason to be Anxious.  Such a ‘Deal’ Would More Accurately Be Termed a ‘Grand Betrayal,’" Alliance For Retired Americans Executive Director Edward Coyle said.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat-Nevada) told The Huffington Post that He Would Make Sure to Protect Social Security Against Attempts to Trade Cuts for Sequestration Relief.

Alliance Chapters Protest Government Shutdown With Die-Ins, Other Tactics

California Alliance Members Staged Die-In’s in Los Angeles and San Francisco Last Week to Draw Attention to the Sobering Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Other Programs that are Being Discussed.  On the Eve of the Government Re-Opening and Debt Ceiling Extension, Seniors, Protestors  from the Disability Community and Others Wore Black Clothing and Skull Masks, Adding to the Effect by Carrying Black Roses with Signs Reading: Cause of Death: Cuts to Medicare.  Other Alliance Chapters Across the Country are Joining With the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Unions and Coalition Partners This Week to Put More Pressure on Congress to Raise the Debt Ceiling Without Cutting Seniors’ Programs.  Alliance Members Also Sent More Than 14,000 Pass-Through Letters to Congress with a Similar Message. “Thank You to Everyone Who Did Your Part to Re-Open the Government and Raise the Debt Ceiling Without Doing So at Seniors’ Expense,” Alliance President Barbara Easterling said.

Poll Shows Public Once Again Disapproving Of Cuts To Social Security, Medicare

The Public Wants To Reduce the Debt, But Is Unwilling to Cut Social Security and Medicare, According to a Recent United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.  On Social Security, 76% of Poll Respondents Say They Don't Want Spending To Be Cut At All; Just 21% Say They Want Spending On The Program To Be Reduced A Lot Or Some.  With Medicare, 81% Oppose Any Cuts, While Only 18% Back Reductions Of Any Kind. You Can Read More at http://tinyurl.com/lna783s.

Medicare Enrollment Season Is Here – Is Your Current Plan Still The Best For You?

The Seven-Week Enrollment Period for Next Year’s Medicare Prescription Drug and Managed-Care Plans Recently Began.  Seniors Should Not Simply Renew Their Policies and Assume the Current Coverage Will Stay The Same, According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).  That’s Because There Is A Likely Payoff For Those Who Pay Close Attention To The Details.  In the Past, Price Hikes, Poor Performance and Changes in Covered Drugs Were Often Not Enough to Spur the Vast Majority Of Seniors Into Action. Only 13% Changed Policies in the Four Years Since Congress Added the Drug Benefit to Medicare in 2006, According to Another Analysis Just Released by the KFF.  “If Seniors Keep the Same Plan Despite An Insurance Company Offering a ‘Bad Deal,’ it Gives the Insurers an ‘Incentive’ to Keep Their Prices High,” Alliance Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burke said.  For More on Medicare Plans and Open Enrollment, Go To http://tinyurl.com/ls8bkdv.