NRLN Pacific – Mountain West Chapter

Judy Stenberg’s Report To You

Judy had meetings on Capitol Hill on September 24 and 25, 2019 during the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) fall Fly-In to Washington, DC. She met with the lead staff for Senators Jeff Merkley (OR), Patty Murray (WA), and Ron Wyden (OR). She also met with the lead staff for Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-09) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01). There were four issues discussed.

Medicare Advantage Plans

There are concerns about these MA Plans. Since from 1997 to 2018 the government has paid out $380 in subsidies. In the years 2019-2020 Congress passed the 2018 Bipartisan Balance Budge Act authorizing Health and Human Services to add Medicare Advantage benefits costing $16.5 billion a year. This spending was for chronic care products and services such as changing air filters and shampooing carpets for at-home Asthma patients and much more. Whether these kinds of services will truly make a difference for people is up for debate. None of these added benefits are given to the 38.2 million seniors that are on Original Medicare A and B plans. It is only going to the 21.3 million in Medicare Advantage Plans. It is discriminatory.

The NRLN asks the following of Congress and the President to do the following.

1. Grandfather the 21.3 million seniors in MA plans, because the plans were purchased in good faith.

2. Ask for a government review to investigate the financials of MA and Original Medicare with and without subsidies.

3. Make all 2019 to 2020 subsidies (air filters, meals, etc.) available to the 38.2 million in Original Medicare to eliminate discrimination.

4. Reduce the annual $85 billion in Medicare and Medicaid wrong and improper payments (use the savings to eliminate the 75 year deficits of Medicare A and B).

NRLN Supports Bills to Reduce Prescription Drug Prices

Again Judy stressed, in no uncertain terms, how angry their constituents are about the drug crisis. She pointed out to each person she met with, whether the Representative or Senator had co-sponsored the drug bills that the NRLN urges Congress to pass. Judy told them again about the NRLN Report Card for each member of Congress and that these report cards are on the NRLN website for all to see.

Competitive Bidding on Prescription Drugs

The meetings included statements that Congress must enact a policy that mandates Health and Human Services to implement a competitive bidding model that will permit direct purchasing of prescription drugs from manufacturers. This does not create a bigger government, it will make HHS more efficient and saves Medicare billions annually. We noted that our members retired from over 300 U. S. companies and public entities with hands-on business experience in developing, producing, and delivering American goods and services at high quality world class standards. The NRLN applies this expertise to recommending public policies that protect senior income and healthcare (Medicare and Drugs).

Passage of Social Security 2100 Act

The Social Security Trustees’ report in April, 2019 states that beginning in 2020 Social Security will pay more in benefits than it takes in from taxes and interest income. Social Security will deplete its reserve fund in 2035. The projections are that there will only be enough revenue to cover 77% to 79% of benefits.

The NRLN did an extensive review of the Social Security bills that have been introduced in Congress and determined we should support the passage of H.R. 860 / S. 269 (the Social Security 2100 Act). Passage of this Act will ensure solvency of the program for 75 years, provide an increase of about 2% across the board and cut income taxes on Social Security benefits for about 12 million middle–income Americans.

To pay for the Act there would be a raise in the payroll tax rate starting 2020 so that by 2043 workers and employers each would pay 7.4% instead of the 6.2% they pay today. And a payroll tax rate would be imposed to a current earnings amount above $400,000.

Pension Plan De-Risking

Judy chose to bring up corporate de-risking again. As reported before, many companies are planning to sell their pensions to insurance companies for annuities in the near future. If companies makes this move you will become a single annuitant and you will lose all of your government protections through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

The NRLN advocates that when a full plan termination takes place retirees should have 90 days’ notice prior to a plan termination, the option of rejecting an annuity buyout individually, and the NRLN has outlined safe harbors, which must be put in place to protect those that take annuities.

Medicare Help

The State Health Information Program (each state has an acronym) helps Medicare beneficiaries better understand their Medicare coverage options and benefits. Counselors help seniors make informed decisions by providing free and unbiased guidance. The counselors have extensive training and are volunteers under a Federal program in each state. Following is the phone number for your state:

• Alaska 907-269-3680
• Hawaii 888-875-9229
• Idaho 800-247-4422
• Montana 800-551-3191
• Oregon 800-722-4134
• Utah 800-541-7735
• Washington 800-562-6900

Form Helps You Make Medicare Decisions

From: Judy Stenberg, NRLN Vice President – Pacific / Mountain West Region

I want to share a Medicare Comparison Plan Form that I received from the supervisor of the SHEBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefit Advisors) in the Office of the Insurance Commissioner in Washington State. SHEBA is known by other names in other states. It is part of the national SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Click here to access this generic form that could be useful to help you make your Medicare decisions.

Message for CenturyLink Pre-1991 Retirees from Judy Stenberg

Be careful Pre-1991 Retirees

I have heard that you have received your healthcare packet for 2020. I have not seen it, because I retired after 1991. I have heard that CenturyLink has another UnitedHealthcare Plan for you next year (2020). I have been told it says if you choose to move from the CenturyLink Pre-1991 Plan to the UnitedHealthcare plan you only have six (6) months to go back to the CenturyLink Pre-1991 Plan. So, the question you need to ask is “if I don’t go back to the CenturyLink Plan in six (6) months does that mean that the company says I am voluntarily leaving the Pre-1991 Plan and can never return to it?”

Again, I have not read the current information you have received. I just want you to be sure that you are making the right decision for your health care.