NLRN
National Retiree Legislative Network
http://www.nrln.org/index.html
Federal Government Links
SocialSecurity.Gov is the official website of the Social Security Administration.
Medicare.Gov is the official website for Medicare participants.
USA.gov is the official U.S. gateway to all government information and services.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program.
HealthCare.Gov provides information about health care insurance plans.
White House is the official website of The White House and The President of the United States.
U.S. Senate includes a directory of Senators and legislative activities in the Senate.
U.S. House of Representatives includes a directory of Representatives and legislative activities in the House.
Congress.gov provides legislative information from the Library of Congress.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assists Congress by preparing objective and impartial reports and analysis.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is devoted to the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees by assuring work-related benefits and rights
Employee Benefits Security Administration(EBSA) is the branch of the U.S. Labor Department committed to educating and assisting Americans covered by private retirement plans and health plans.
Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is the U.S. Government Agency with the responsibility of protecting the retirement incomes of Americans in private-sector defined benefit pension plans.
U.S. Department of the Treasury is responsible for formulating and recommending economic, financial, tax and fiscal policies for the U.S. Government.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides America's taxpayers with help to understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the tax laws.
Government Accounting Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress to investigate how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.
Veterans Administration
Veterans Administration can provide U.S. military veterans with services and benefits that can result in significant savings.
Veterans Health and Identification Card
Access VA Health Benefits
VA Dental Insurance Programs
VA Medical Benefits Package
Prescription Drugs
Geriatrics and Extended Care
Home Health Care
VA Transportation Program
General Benefits Information
Burial and Memorial Benefits
Information, Advocacy & Assistance Links:
American Academy of Actuaries operates a pension assistance list of actuaries.
Benefits Link is an independent website that provides free information and tools for benefit plan sponsors, service-providers and participants.
Benefitnews.com is a complete online resource for benefits and HR professionals.
Benefits CheckUpis a service to screen benefits for older adults.
Benefits Pro is the #1 online destination for benefits professionals.
Cato Instituteis a public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.
Continuous Chest Compression CPR View a video to learn a hands-only CPR method that doubles a persons chance of surviving cardiac arrest.
Drugs.Com is an independent medicine information website for drug and related health information.
Employee Benefit Research Institute is committed to original public policy research and education on economic security and employee benefits.
The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) is dedicated exclusively to representing the employee benefits and compensation interests of Americas major employers.
Health Insurance Options a service to compare and buy health insurance.
The Heritage Foundation Center for Health Policy Studies conducts policy analyses and develops major policy prescriptions to expand health insurance coverage, restore the traditional doctor patient relationship, and improve the quality of care.
Find assisted living, independent living,memory/alzheimer's care, retirement communities and more
Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (ICAO) is a large coalition of the nation's non-profit organizations serving older Americans.
Medicare Rights Centeris a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives.
OpenSecerts.Orgis a comprehensive resource for federal campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis.
National Pension Lawyers Network can refer retirees to employee-benefits lawyers in your area.
Pension Help America is a product of the Pension Rights Center.
The Pension Rights Center protecting and promoting retirement security.
RetiredBrains is the largest independent job and information resource for retirees and people planning their retirement.
United Benefits Advisors brings together the expertise, products, and services of many independent employee benefits firms.
U.S. National Debt Clockshows the national debt and debt by state.
News Links:
Associated Press http://www.ap.org/
Reuters http://www.reuters.com/
Bloomberg News http://www.bloomberg.com/news/
MarketWatch http://www.marketwatch.com/
ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/
CBS News http://www.cbsnews.com/
NBC News http://www.nbcnews.com/
CNN News http://www.cnn.com/
Fox News http://www.foxnews.com/
MSNBC News http://www.msnbc.com/
PBS News http://www.pbs.org/
Financial News Links:
Baron’s http://online.barrons.com/home-page
Bloomberg Financial News http://www.bloomberg.com/personal-finance/
CNBC Financial News http://www.cnbc.com/
Forbes http://www.forbes.com/
Fox Business News http://www.foxbusiness.com/index.html
Kiplinger http://www.kiplinger.com/
Housing, Mortgage, Loan Information Links:
Housing & Mortgage Information for Seniors http://www.mortgageloan.com/seniors/
Mortgage Calculators, Loan Rate, Brokers-Lenders & Financial Glossary http://www.mortgageloan.com/
Insight into reverse mortgages http://reversemortgagealert.org/
Medical Information Links:
The Hospital Safety Score is a public service provided by The Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the U.S. health system.
Hear In America http://www.hearinamerica.com/ offers complimentary hearing screening and discounts on hearing aids.
LowestMed https://new.lowestmed.com/Free helps you know where to find the best price and provides a discount card to get the best deal...and it's all free.
Cleveland Clinic http://my.clevelandclinic.org/default.aspx
Johns Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/patient_care/conditions_treatments.html
Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.org/ /p> Web MD http://www.webmd.com/
Planning Your Doctor Visit http://nihseniorhealth.gov/talkingwithyourdoctor/planningyourdoctorvisit/01.html
Search by Insurance for Geriatric Care http://www.zocdoc.com/insurances
Medicare.gov:Forms, Help & Resources http://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/
Medicare Part D Coverage http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/medicare/part-d
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid: Regulations and Guidance http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Regulations-and-Guidance.html
Senior Care Resource Guide http://www.homeadvisor.com/article.center.Senior-Care.94.html
Senior Health http://nihseniorhealth.gov/
Guide to Addiction Prevention for Seniors http://www.newbeginningsdrugrehab.org/guide-to-addiction-prevention-for-seniors/
Staying Healthy as a Senior http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors/Health/Staying-Healthy.shtml
Resources for Ensuring a Long, Happy and Healthy Life https://www.kanetix.ca/healthy-life
Staying Healthy Over 50 http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_aging_seniors_aging_well.htm
Benefits of Swimming for Seniors http://www.backyardocean.com/Swimming-Benefits-Safety-Seniors-a/269.htm
RBAssociation source for disability, retirement and Medicare guidance.
Senior Discount Links:
Ambit Energy competitive rates.
Travel discounts on airfares, hotels, car rentals and vacation packages.
Restaurants / Retail and Apparel Discounts
Grocery / Travel / Entertainment Discounts
Senior Discounts.com is an online directory of U.S. businesses that offer discounts to people 50 years of age and older. It currently list over 250,000 business locations, which include the contact information, discount information and other information necessary to receive each discount.
Brand’s Deals.com is a one-stop source for the latest coupons & deals from thousands of leading retailers.
Gift Card Granny.com is an onslaught of discounts for everything from groceries and clothing to travel and restaurants.
Savings More Than Me.com is a blog on home life, crafts, health, travel, pets, reviews, giveaways, etc.
Discount Ideas From Members:
Discounts on Other Products and Services
ControlEnergy can provide savings on electricity and natural gas in certain states.
Kiplinger Retirement Freebies.
I have a membership to Citizen's Oil Co-Op which has its base in West Hartford, CT and also provides services in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I pay $20 a year (senior rate) for membership. I get discounts on oil and on my electric/generation service charge. I saved over $540 this year on oil alone. And I can save on the membership with 2 referrals to the organization. They also discount propane. Website is: http://oilco-op.com/. Toll free phone is: 1-860-561-6011.
Discount prices on reading glasses are available at Dollar Store , Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree , and Dollar General to name a few.
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging is an umbrella organization advocating to ensure that needed resources and support services are available to older Americans.
Prescription Drugs ideas provided by NRLN members.
- Here are two ways you can verify that your purchase of prescription drugs are from legitimate pharmacies:
- Check the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s website to see whether your pharmacy is a verified Internet practice pharmacy site.
- Visit LegitsScript and type in the website of the online pharmacy to see whether it’s approved.
- My Tier 4 prescription drugs are reduced by approximately 60% by using Canada Drugs. The website is: https://www.canadadrugs.com/; the toll free phone is: 1-800-226-3784; the email address is info@canadadrugs.com. The medicine is identical to that I receive in the U.S. Their service is excellent and it is ease talk with them. I use the Canadian pharmacy for long-term prescriptions and not for short-term prescriptions that one would take for the flu. The only negative is it takes longer to receive the prescription because it is mailed. However, with proper planning this is not a problem.
- Health Link offers a prescription drug savings card.
- Costco and Sam’s Club offer many prescription drugs at discounts without having to be a member. Simply enter the store and say you are going to the pharmacy. Or, you may order online without being a member. Costco toll free phone is: 1-800-607-6861; Costco Drug pricing webpage.
- Sam’s Club toll free phone is: 1-888-746-7726
- Discounts on many prescription drugs are offered by www.goodrx.com . You print the coupons for the pharmacy of your choice.
- Pharmacy Saver is a cost-savings prescription drug program available to Medicare Advantage plan members with Prescription Drug coverage. You may be able to pay less than your plan co-pay for your prescription drugs with the Pharmacy Saver program. To look up your prescription drugs and find a Pharmacy Saver location near you go to: https://www.unitedpharmacysaver.com/ .
- In Nov 2013 I paid a $200 copay for a 30 gram tube of Carac .5% Fluorouracil (manufactured by Valeant) and last month my dermatologist wrote a prescription for me to buy more from COSTCO. The news is: Manufacture’s price to COSTCO (according to their pharmacist) for a 30 gram tube:
$2,900
My copay – I did not ask
The COSTCO pharmacist offered a generic 30 gram tube of Fluorouracil .5%:
Price to COSTCO
$1,300
My copay - $840
What a deal!
I called my dermatologist who referred me to Philidor Pharmacies (toll free phone: 1-855-744-5791; website: http://www.philidorrxservices.com) with pharmacies based in Hatboro, PA and Los Angeles, CA and Service Centers in Hatboro and Phoenix, AZ. Philador specializes in dermatological products that most Medicare D plans or other plans will not cover. Philador told me that they negotiate pricing with Valeant (and maybe others soon) who want to avoid distribution channel markups, including retail pricing for high cost drugs. Without the benefit if Medicare D or any other insurance, I paid $75 for the Carac brand, 30 grams, .5% and no charge 3-5 day delivery.
- Type Prescription Drug Savings in Google Search or Bing Search.
- Use the Medicare site every November and plug in all the drugs to get annual cost which can vary significantly between companies. Don't forget to check the mail order price which is usually much less. I have one plan for myself and another for my wife. My plan would cost more for the drugs she takes and visa versa. Don't just go with the plan you had last year. I think drug companies rely on automatic repeat business because it is a pain to understand the plan differences. I have changed several times over the years because the drug companies play games with pricing and placing drugs in tiers. There are no government guidelines for what drug goes in what tier. The same drug can be in different tiers based on dosage. I have to think the more popular doses would be in a higher tier.
- My wife was prescribed capsules for one of her meds. Capsules can be much more costly than tablets. Check with your doctor because frequently they aren't aware of these subtle facts.
- Extended Relief (ER) meds can cost more than taking the same drug several times a day. One of my meds was ER had a copay of $90. So I take a reduced dose which is non ER three times a day for $10 copay.
- If a drug is newly prescribed during the year and not on the formulary ask for an exception. I did that and they obliged. Don't be afraid to lean on them. They want your business. You can also ask for a tier reduction if the copay is high.
- Don't look at whether or not a company has a deductible. Look at the annual cost unless cash flow early in the year is a problem. One plan can have a deductible and larger monthly premium than other plans and still be the best on an annual basis.
- I spend about 20 hours a year working the ever changing Medicare D site. It is tedious but I like to know as much as I can. I have helped non computer literate friends of mine save a lot of money by getting them in the best plan for the meds they take.
- Massachusetts has a group of trained people called SHINE. They are required to train for 40 hours and are at senior center every year to assist in choosing a Medicare Part D plan.
- One thing I will recommend to all seniors on Medicare Part D, that enroll with a provider who has their primary medications in Tier 1. I discovered that different Medicare Part D providers put the same medication in different Tiers. A medication in Tier 1 is much cheaper than same medication in Tier 2. Also some providers reduce the cost to zero if 3 month’s supply is ordered with their mail order pharmacy. For example, I get Tamsulosin (generic for Flowmax) completely at zero cost form the Humana Medicare Part D plan.
Special Interests Links:
National and Local Weather
The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/
Sports
Word Press Sports Links http://www.watchlivenba.com/wordpress_links.html
NCAA College Sports http://www.ncaa.com/
Major League Baseball http://mlb.mlb.com/home
National Football League http://www.nfl.com/
National Basketball Association http://www.nba.com/
Professional Golf Association http://www.pga.com/home/
Ladies Professional Golf Association http://www.lpga.com/
ESPN http://espn.go.com/
Fox Sports http://msn.foxsports.com/
Entertainment
Access Hollywood http://www.accesshollywood.com/
Entertainment Tonight http://www.etonline.com/
Extra http://www.extratv.com/
Inside Edition http://www.insideedition.com/
People Magazine http://www.people.com/people/
US Magazine http://www.usmagazine.com/
Home, Cooking, Gardening, Arts & Crafts:
Home & Garden TV http://www.hgtv.com/
Food Network http://www.foodnetwork.com/
Do It Yourself http://www.doityourself.com/
Gardening http://gardening.about.com/
Arts & Crafts http://spoonful.com/crafts
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