Blog

• Medicare Premiums to Take a Big Bite out of Social Security’s 5.9% COLA in 2022

  November 22, 2021: The standard monthly Medicare Part B premium in 2022 will rise to $170.10 from $148.50 in 2021 – a 14.55% jump and more than double what had been expected. A Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) official told CNN that $10 of the $21....Read more >

• UAW Members End John Deere Strike with Higher Wages and Stronger Retirement Benefits

  November 22, 2021: Over 10,000 striking John Deere workers returned to work Thursday after ratifying a new contract. The agreement includes wage increases and was ratified after union members rejected a previous contract. The workers, members of the UAW, ratifie...Read more >

• House Passes Historic Build Back Act that Lowers Drug Prices, Funds Home Care and Hearing Aids

  November 22, 2021: The House voted 220-213 to pass the Build Back Better Act, H.R. 5376, Friday morning, sending President Biden’s sweeping plan to invest in middle class families and expand long-awaited social programs to the U.S. Senate. The bill contains numerous ...Read more >

• Public Opinion Is Unified on Lowering Drug Prices. Why Are Leaders Settling for Less?

  November 18, 2021: Democrats and Republicans are crystal clear in polls that they want government to be allowed to negotiate down high drug prices. Americans pay nearly three times as much for drugs as patients in dozens of other countries. In the past two years, num...Read more >

• Legislation is Introduced in House to Reduce Barriers for Older Workers

  November 15, 2021: U.S. Representatives Marie Newman (IL), Don Beyer (VA), Suzanne Bonamici (OR) and Sylvia Garcia (TX) recently introduced the Supporting Older Workers Act, H.R. 5531, a bill designed to improve and advance the employment, economic success and well-bei...Read more >

• Alliance Activists Make the Case for the Build Back Better Act

  November 15, 2021: Alliance chapters across the country have been working hard to solidify support for the Build Back Better Act. In Connecticut on Wednesday, Mary Elia, Corresponding Secretary for the Connecticut Alliance, joined the U.S. Senators from Connecticut, Ri...Read more >

• Build Back Better Act Clears Procedural Vote in House, Awaits Next Steps

  November 15, 2021: Following the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill on Friday, November 5, Democrats in Congress passed a key procedural vote to set up eventual passage of the Build Back Better Act, H.R. 5376, as they worked toward securing commitments from ...Read more >

• KHN: Medicare Enrollment Blitz Doesn’t Include Options to Move Into Medigap

  November 10, 2021: Medicare’s annual open-enrollment season is here and millions of beneficiaries — prompted by a massive advertising campaign and aided by a detailed federal website — will choose a private Medicare Advantage plan. But those who have inste...Read more >

• Despite Restraints, Democrats’ Drug Pricing Plan Could Still Aid Consumers

  November 05, 2021: The Medicare prescription drug pricing plan Democrats unveiled this week is not nearly as ambitious as many lawmakers sought, but they and drug policy experts say the provisions crack open the door to reforms that could have dramatic effects. Tamp...Read more >

• Democrats Plan to Expand Medicare Hearing Benefits. What Can Consumers Expect?

  November 05, 2021: President Joe Biden’s mammoth domestic spending bill would add hearing benefits to the traditional Medicare program — one of three major new benefits Democrats had sought. The Biden administration appears to have fallen short of its ambition t...Read more >