Social Security

I am a strong advocate for ensuring that Social Security remains intact and that it provides the benefits our seniors need.  With the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment, $250 was sent to Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. 

On October 15, 2009, the Social Security Administration announced that there will be no Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for Social Security in Fiscal Year 2010.  This is due to the fact that the Consumer Price Index, which measures the costs of goods and services, is expected to shrink rather than grow.  The Social Security Act provides that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year if there is an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year to the third quarter of the current year.  This past year, there was no increase.  However, prices seniors pay for some items, such as medical care and prescriptions, shot up, so seniors have been hit hard.  So, on September 24, 2009, I voted for, and the House passed, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (H.R. 3631).  This legislation will ensure that seniors who do not receive a cost of living increase will not see their Part B premiums increase. Because Part B premiums are deducted from Social Security payments for seniors who have both benefits, a lack of a COLA increase and a Part B premium increase would have effectively meant that some seniors would see a drop in their Social Security benefit.  This bill is now pending before the United States Senate.  I also cosponsored the Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act (H.R. 3597). This legislation would provide a one-time $250 payment for seniors next year. 

I realize that our seniors are struggling.  In this time of economic hardship, I do not believe that Members of Congress should get an automatic pay raise.  That is why I cosponsored legislation, H.R. 156, the Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act, to prevent Members of Congress from receiving a pay raise in 2010.  The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, which I supported and was signed into law on March 11, 2009, eliminated the automatic pay raises for Members of Congress for Fiscal Year 2010.  I have also cosponsored H.R. 4255, the Stop the Automatic Pay Raise for Members of Congress in Fiscal Year 2011 Act.  This legislation would prevent an automatic pay raise for Members of Congress in Fiscal Year 2011. 

Medicare

On November 7, 2009, I voted to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). This legislation strengthens Medicare, which is why it was endorsed by the AARP.  This bill would immediately begin to close the Medicare Part D donut hole. The donut hole affects millions of seniors by not covering prescription drug costs over $2,700 and below $6,154.  In 2010, this bill would shrink the donut hole by $500 and over the course of ten years the donut hole will be completely eliminated.  The Affordable Health Care for America Act also does away with co-pays under Medicare for a number of preventative services, allowing seniors increased access to health care.  In addition, the bill calls for increasing allowable assets for those individuals who qualify for Part D low-income subsidies. These requirements will help make prescription drug coverage affordable.
 
There are significant savings that can be found from rooting out the fraud, waste, and abuse that currently exist in Medicare.  In addition, this legislation would eliminate unwarranted subsidies to private insurance companies administering Medicare Advantage that cost, on average, 14% more than traditional Medicare. This will allow us to cut down on waste and help to extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund. This bill does not abolish the Medicare Advantage program, but rather, brings its payments in line with traditional Medicare.
 
Finally, on November 19, 2009, I voted to pass the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961). This legislation will fix the way Medicare pays physicians, which will help preserve seniors' access to their doctors. It prevents a 21% payment cut to doctors next year that could force some doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients. I will continue to work to ensure that New Hampshire seniors have access to the doctors they know and trust.

MY OFFICE CAN HELP

My office can assist constituents when applying for benefits with the Social Security Administration, with Social Security Disability application, card replacements, as well as with overpayment issues.  We also provide help to constituents with pending Medicare applications, when waiting for new membership cards, and more. 

For Drug Prescription Plans and for Health Plan Choices the best point of contact in New Hampshire is ServiceLink at 866-634-9412.