Your AARP ;
With No Social Security COLA, Looking for Relief
; WASHINGTON WATCH
No Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2010 means tighter times for
older Americans, but AARP is working with Congress to lessen the impact.
in emergency relief to Social Security beneficiaries in 2010; and ( 2) capping
the Medicare Part B premium, so some Part B participants don’t have to pay
a disproportionate share of the premiums. ; The House fast-tracked a $2.8
billion bill designed to stop Part B premium hikes for about 11 million ben-
eficiaries; the 2010 premiums would hold steady at $96.40
instead of rising to as much as $119. The situation arose
because Medicare law requires Part B premiums to pay for
a quarter of the program’s total cost. Three of four beneficiaries are
currently shielded from the premium increases. ; At the same time,
Congress is considering the $250 emergency relief for Social Security
recipients. The problem is finding the $14 billion to finance it. “We’re
trying to move something on a bipartisan basis if it’s possible,” says
How Much Can You Save?
; MONEY
David Sloane, AARP senior vice president of government relations and
advocacy. AARP CEO Barry Rand, in a letter to congressional leaders,
urged action: “The combination of higher health care costs,
including prescription drug prices, and a stagnant Social Secu-
DISCOUNTS
rity benefit is particularly troubling and will result in lower net
Social Security payments to millions of America’s seniors in
; Flower Power
AARP members save 20
percent on flowers ordered
through Teleflora, which
offers a variety of arrange-
ments and same-day de-
livery. Call 1-800-776-1126
or visit www.teleflora
.com/aarp.
January 2010.” For more, go to aarp.org/governmentwatch.
Share saving ideas, get
tips from “Ultimate
Cheapskate” Jeff Yeager
(below) and compete
for prizes in the Savings
Challenge start-
ing Nov. 10. After
that date, go to
www.aarp.org/
savingschal
lenge for details.
Find Your Inner Artist
; AARP BOOKS
; Coupon Cause
Access online coupons
from the AARP Grocery
Coupon Center, powered by
Coupons.com, and through
Dec. 31 Coupons.com will
donate 5 cents to an AARP
Foundation charitable
program for each coupon
redeemed. Go to www.gro
cerycouponcenter.com.
Feeling creative but don’t know how to coax out the talent within? The latest book from
AARP may help get the juices flowing. ; AARP
launches its Live and Learn series with Expres-
sive Drawing: A Practical Guide to Freeing the
Artist Within by arts educator Steven Aimone.
You’ll learn to use simple elements such as
line and shape to tap the power of memories
and ideas. Besides skill-building exercises, the
book offers inspirational images from master
artists and profiles of people who explored
drawing later in life. ; To order a copy, go to
www.aarpmagazine.org/books. AARP mem-
bers get 35 percent off the $24.95 price.
