US House of Representatives Passes Three-year Extension of ACA Tax Credits, Legislation Moves to US Senate
On January 8th, the US House of Representatives voted to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits for three years. The legislation passed with bi-partisan support on a 230-196 vote. The premium tax credits cut out-of-pocket premiums by more than half for over 20 million ACA marketplace enrollees. In exchange for absolutely nothing, Congress reopened the government after the longest shut down in history and allowed the ACA tax credits to expire at the end of 2025, sending healthcare premiums skyrocketing and putting an estimated 4 to 6 million Americans at risk of becoming uninsured.
The legislation is now in the hands of the US Senate, where lawmakers are beginning to negotiate a compromise. That compromise, if the bill passes at all, may include shortening the extension to just two years and, in the second year, giving government subsidies for health care costs directly to patients in a Health Savings Account, rather than insurance companies, among other changes. Be sure to contact your US Senators and urge them to pass a clean three-year extension of the ACA tax credits. Sharing your personal story can have a major impact on lawmakers. Find your members of Congress by visiting https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.
Special Webinar to Stop the Scam and Protect Older Adults from Social Media and AI-Driven Fraud
Scams targeting older adults are rapidly evolving, fueled by social media platforms and increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence tools. From fake ads and impersonation messages to cloned voices and deceptive videos, scammers are exploiting trust and technology at unprecedented levels. Older adults are being disproportionately harmed, yet education, consumer protections, and accountability have not kept pace.
Join us January 29 at 1 PM PST for a webinar introducing the Alliance’s Stop the Scam Campaign, a year-long public education initiative to raise awareness, share real experiences, and mobilize action to protect older adults from social media and AI-driven scams.
During this session, participants will:
- Learn how social media and AI technologies are being used to target and deceive older adults
- Hear how organizations, advocates, and community leaders can participate, share stories, and help amplify prevention efforts
- Understand how education and collective action can support stronger protections and safer online environments
This webinar is open to all. Together, we can raise awareness, protect our loved ones, and help stop the scams before more harm is done.
Registration Link: Stop the Scam! Webinar on Social Media and AI-driven Fraud · Alliance for Retired Americans
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – Champion of Public Workers
Written by Carol Dotlich, RPEC Ch. 12 President
On January 19th, we honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who dreamed of universal equality and marched for freedom in the Deep South. Dr. King’s legacy would be incomplete without recognizing his deep commitment to the struggles of the American labor movement—an especially meaningful connection for RPEC and our affiliation with AFSCME.
AFSCME will never let the public forget that Dr. King fought his final battle alongside sanitation workers who belonged to this union. In late January 1968, the Department of Public Works in Memphis, Tennessee, sent African American sewer workers home because of rain, while white workers were kept on the job and paid a full day’s wages. When African American workers objected, the city offered them just two hours of pay. It was one more act of disrespect in a system that paid them less than $4,000 a year, denied them job security and benefits, and refused to recognize their union—AFSCME Local 1733.
On February 12, 1968, 1,300 sanitation workers walked off the job after city leaders failed to address their grievances. The strike continued for weeks as officials attempted to pressure workers back to work. Instead, the community rallied around the strikers and their families. The issue was injustice, and Memphis reached a familiar crossroads of the Civil Rights Movement—this time with the union at the center and economic equality clearly at stake.
Dr. King followed the strike closely and recognized a pattern that extended far beyond Memphis. The struggle of these public employees reflected the hardships faced by poor people across the country. Although he was deeply involved in organizing the Poor People’s March on Washington, Dr. King accepted an urgent invitation to speak in Memphis in support of the workers.
The strike gained national attention when Dr. King spoke on March 18, 1968. He chose Memphis as the launching point for the Poor People’s March and delivered his powerful “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech in support of AFSCME sanitation workers. Tragically, the next day, Dr. King was assassinated. AFSCME honors his legacy by continuing the shared struggle—for dignity, economic justice, and the rights of all people.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31, 2026
A gentle reminder for those currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan to review your coverage during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which runs through March 31, 2026.
During this period, individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan may:
- Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, with or without prescription drug coverage; or
- Return to Original Medicare and, if needed, enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
It’s good practice for all Medicare Advantage enrollees to review your coverage to ensure it meets your health and financial needs. This MA Open Enrollment Period is an opportunity to manage Medicare costs and make changes if you’re dissatisfied with your current plan.
Any changes made will take effect on the first day of the month after the new plan receives your enrollment request. Those returning to Original Medicare should note that they may not be able to purchase a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.
Do you have health care coverage questions or concerns? Contact the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) for assistance. Get free, unbiased Medicare help from the Washington SHIBA program. Call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-562-6900 and ask to be connected with your local SHIBA office, or visit the SHIBA website here. Find Medicare counseling and events in your area here.
Also, here is a link to Medicare.gov’s Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans online booklet, available for download or printing – https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf
Be sure to visit our Healthcare Resources page for more information about Traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Weekly Legislative Update Calls
Our second Weekly Legislative Update Call will be held on Friday, January 23rd at 2:00 pm. We are using a new meeting link for the Weekly Update Call beginning this year, and this is a different link than the Monthly Legislative Update Call. The meeting link for that call can be found on the Council calendar at www.rpecwa.org. It is also provided here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81948025087?pwd=PabX1DKJsnQHT5hsElvGqwfErwoaDt.1
Meeting ID: 819 4802 5087
Passcode: 700628
Dial by your location
253-205-0468 US
253-215-8782 US (Tacoma)
Upcoming Events:
Please refer to our calendar page for more information about each event, including links to Zoom meetings, if available.
· Jan. 19 – Council Office closed, MLK Jr. Day
· Jan. 22 – Healthcare Workgroup (3:30 pm)
· Jan. 23 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
· Jan. 26-30 – RPEC/WEA-Retired Joint Virtual Legislative Week
· Jan. 30 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
· Feb. 6 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)
· Feb. 9 – Senior Lobby (10:00 am)
· Feb. 13 – Legislative Update Call (2:00 pm)