Newsletter

HOW AARP CAN HELP YOU PREVENT AND DETECT SCAMS

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to frauds and scams, and AARP provides considerable resources to help seniors learn more. The AARP Fraud Watch Network has a team of fraud fighters to provide real-world tips to protect you and your loved ones.

You can also sign up for bi-weekly scam watchdog alerts, and AARP provides a toll-free help line at 877-908-3360 that you can call if you suspect a scam. The line is open from 8 AM to 8 PM Monday through Friday EDT.

Please click here to learn more about the resources AARP has available for preventing frauds and scams.

SOCIAL SECURITY REVISES PLANS FOR IN-PERSON VISITS

The Social Security Administration walked back plans to reduce over-the-phone services, providing clarity to recipients about who must verify their identity in person.

The move came weeks after the agency unveiled “stronger identity verification procedures” that officials said would require more in-person visits but better protect against fraudulent claims. The announcement led to an outcry from the public.

Now, instead of requiring applicants and beneficiaries to verify their identity online or in-person for certain services, the agency said those who use the phone system “will only have to come in-person if they are flagged by our anti-fraud system,” Social Security said in an April 9 post on X.

The new security measures were set to go into effect on March 31, acutely impacting Americans who are unable to make the trip or do not have reliable internet access.

Read the balance of the article here.

FACT SHEET: PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES ACTIONS TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

President Trump signed an Executive Order on April 15 to expand on the efforts of his first term to lower prescription drug prices. The following is taken from the April 15 Fact Sheet and outlines the new provisions contained in the Executive Order:

• The Order directs the Department of Health and Human Services to take steps to significantly reduce drug prices for American patients.

• It delivers lower drug prices for Medicare by:

• Improving the Medicare Drug Pricing Negotiation Program to eclipse the 22% in savings achieved in the program’s first year.

• Aligning Medicare payment for certain prescription drugs with the cost by which hospitals acquire them, which can be 35% lower than what the government currently pays.

• Standardizing Medicare payments for prescription drugs, such as cancer treatments, regardless of where the patient receives care, which can lower prices by as much as 60%.

• It provides massive discounts to low-income patients for life-saving medications.

• Insulin prices for low-income patients and the uninsured will be lowered to as low as $0.03, plus a small administrative fee.

• Injectable epinephrine for low-income patients and the uninsured will be as low as $15, plus a small administrative fee.

• The Order helps states reduce drug prices by:

• Facilitating importation programs (e.g, from Canadian drug programs) that could save states millions in prescription drug costs.

• Building off programs to help states get much better deals on expensive sickle-cell medications in Medicaid than the statutorily required 23.1% discount.

President Trump is dedicated to creating a transparent, competitive, and fair prescription drug market for American consumers.

• The Order increases the availability of generics and biosimilars, which can be as much as 80% cheaper than brand alternatives.

• The Order requireses disclosure of fees that pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs) pay to brokers for steering employers to utilize their services.

• Directs the Administration to develop reforms to promote a more competitive, transparent, efficient, and resilient prescription drug value chain.

• By addressing the influence of middlemen and promoting open competition, President Trump’s actions aim to create a fairer prescription drug market that lowers costs and ensures accountability across the health care system.

About Paul Cholak

Paul is a licensed, independent health and life insurance agent and has over forty years of benefits experience and specializes in helping Medicare beneficiaries obtain health insurance. However, he offers a complete array of life and health insurance products to individuals of all ages.

He guides Medicare beneficiaries through the steps of getting insurance and is available to help clients both BEFORE and AFTER they've made their purchase decision.

Disclaimer for Part C and D plans: "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-2048) to get information on all your options."

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