TSCL has been urging Congress to take action on issues that matter so much to seniors. Still, their attention has been on other issues such as the war in Iran, rising inflation, rising gas prices, rising medical costs, and rising food costs.
Those issues, of course, matter very much to seniors. Still, Congress is not addressing the serious problems posed by the looming insolvency of Social Security and other issues related to Medicare.
In addition, Congress is supposed to have the FY2027 budget finalized and paid for by the end of September, or we’ll once again have government shutdowns, extensions of the 2026 budget, or both.
We discuss those issues and others below, including some good news about the new weight-loss drugs.
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Good News for Seniors Wanting to Lose Weight
As most seniors know, one effect of getting older is weight gain. Our metabolism slows down, we generally exercise less, and we have less energy in general.
That’s why the new weight-loss drugs, referred to as GLP-1 drugs, which have been developed in recent years, are so interesting to many seniors. Until now, however, the costs for those drugs have been prohibitive. But that is changing, at least for a while.
Medicare currently covers GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for specific purposes, like managing Type 2 diabetes. If you have a condition like this, you may be able to get one of these medications under your Medicare Part D plan right away.
But if you want a GLP-1 to help you lose weight, you’ve been out of luck. Medicare has not covered these drugs for weight loss purposes, so you’ve either needed to cover them out of pocket — which can cost almost $1,000 per month — or use another health insurance plan if you have one available.
The good news for those seeking weight-loss drugs is that Medicare will begin a short-term demonstration, called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, that will provide eligible Medicare Part D seniors with access to certain GLP-1 drugs for $50 per month.
The new program, called “the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge,” is a short-term demonstration run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that will provide eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries access to certain GLP-1 drugs between July 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027.
However, there are potential problems with the test program. According to KFF News, because it is not included in the Medicare Part D benefit, “… the $50 copayment won’t count towards the Part D deductible or the $2,100 out-of-pocket spending cap. Part D enrollees using a GLP-1 for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or other Medicare-covered uses will continue accessing the drug through their Part D plan and paying their plan’s cost-sharing requirement, even if it’s more than the $50 copayment for GLP-1s for obesity under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. And low-income Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for reduced cost sharing through the Part D Low-Income Subsidy can’t use those subsidies for GLP-1 prescriptions filled under the short-term program. For low- and modest-income individuals, the $50 copayment could be a barrier to participation.”
Another issue to be aware of is that those who participate in this short-term demonstration program will need to be enrolled in a Part D plan that participates in the longer-term demonstration program beginning in 2027 if they want to continue having Medicare coverage for their GL-1 medication.
Quoting from KFF News again, “Transitioning Medicare coverage of GLP-1s for obesity from the mandatory Medicare GLP-1 Bridge to the voluntary BALANCE model sets up the possibility that beneficiaries with coverage under the short-term program may need to switch Part D plans during the 2027 open enrollment period, with potential cost and coverage implications for other medications they use.”
There is a lot at stake for the public and Medicare beneficiaries in these two programs. CMS is not sharing how much they will cost taxpayers, or who will foot most of the bill.
We do know, however, that the temporary coverage of obesity medications, which sidesteps federal law, will unleash millions of new patients and billions of dollars in revenue for the drugs’ manufacturers, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
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Beware of Medicare Fraud
Although this update is meant to cover the month of May concerning senior issues, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that June 1 marked the start of Medicare Fraud Prevention Week. While this week shines a spotlight on fraud prevention, protecting Medicare is a year-round mission.
In 2025 alone, CMS suspended more than $5.7 billion in suspicious payments and launched investigations into thousands of potentially fraudulent Medicare providers and suppliers. This year, CMS has suspended Medicare payments to hundreds of potentially phony hospices, many of which didn’t even bother calling to dispute our decision.
CMS also recently issued nationwide moratoria on new Medicare enrollments for hospices, home health agencies, and durable medical equipment suppliers until we can develop the safeguards needed to stop bad actors from exploiting the system. Existing providers will continue delivering these vital services to beneficiaries while CMS closes off pathways for new fraudsters to enter the program.
There are actions CMS urges you to take to help fight against Medicare fraud:
Someone you don’t know calls, emails, or texts you offering free medical equipment or services. What should you do?
Hang up. Delete it. Only you and your doctor should decide what care and services are right for you.
Protect your Medicare information, including your Medicare number.
Scammers want your Medicare information so they can bill Medicare for services you don’t need — like hospice (end-of-life care), home health care, or durable medical equipment (like a brace or cane).
Hospice scams are particularly harmful. If a scammer signs you up for hospice care without your knowledge, you could lose access to your regular Medicare benefits.
Remember: Never give out your Medicare Number and don’t sign anything for free services — it’s a scam. If you think you may have experienced fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report it online at Medicare.gov/fraud.
NOTE: To root out fraud, Medicare has temporarily stopped allowing new home health and hospice agencies from opening. This doesn’t affect your care. If you and your doctor decide you need home health or hospice services, you can still get them from existing agencies in your area.
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No More Social Security Paper Checks
While the transition of Social Security payments from paper checks to electronic payments has been underway for a long time, a new executive order from President Trump directs the Treasury Department to stop using paper checks for all federal payments by the end of this year. However, Social Security recipients can still request a waiver from this policy by contacting the Treasury Department.
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Less Than 7 Years Left Before Drastic Social Security Cuts
We have been warning for years that major cuts to monthly Social Security payments will come if Congress does not act. We reported a couple of months ago about our visit to Congressional offices, where we were told that fixing Social Security is not a priority because seniors are not calling and writing their Senators and Representatives to demand that they get to work on it.
Now a new report says that millions of Americans who rely on Social Security could see their monthly benefit checks slashed by an average of about $500 if the program’s retirement trust fund becomes insolvent, a scenario currently projected for the end of 2032.
The reduction would amount to a 24% cut in the typical benefit payment, according to a new analysis from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal policy think tank.
The cuts would impact between 10% and 23% of each state’s population, the analysis found.
“No state would be spared from the potentially devastating effects of insolvency,” the report says.
States facing the largest monthly benefit cuts include:
- Connecticut, with an average $556 cut
- Delaware, $549
- Maryland, $541
- Massachusetts, $527
- Michigan, $523
- Minnesota, $530
- New Hampshire, $553
- New Jersey, $554
- Utah, $523
- Washington, $531
Insolvency does not mean Social Security beneficiaries would stop receiving payments altogether. Even after trust fund reserves are depleted, the program would continue collecting payroll tax revenue, allowing it to pay benefits at a reduced level.
The Social Security Administration’s annual Trustees Report had estimated the insolvency date to be 2033, but because of the loss of tax revenue resulting from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, it was moved up to the end of 2032.
In its report on the looming benefits cut, CBS News cited a TSCL report released last year, which estimated that 73% of retirees depend on Social Security for more than half their income, and 39% depend on it for all of their income.
Once again, we urge you to contact your Senator and Representative and tell them they need to work now on fixing Social Security.
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As we move into the summer months, TSCL will continue monitoring these critical developments in Washington and advocating for policies that protect the financial and health security of America’s seniors. Whether the issue is preserving Social Security, strengthening Medicare, combating fraud, or ensuring access to affordable healthcare, we remain committed to keeping you informed and making sure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill.
The challenges facing seniors are too important to ignore, and we encourage you to stay engaged, stay informed, and continue contacting your elected officials to demand action on the issues that affect your retirement and quality of life.
