Aging in Our Community A Message from W. Mark Clark, President and CEO Medicare Critical for Older Adults
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill that led to Medicare and Medicaid. Over the years, Congress has made changes to Medicare, leading to more people becoming eligible, including those with disabilities, and expanding benefits to include prescription drug coverage. Today, more than 60 million Americans over the age of 65 and individuals with qualifying long-term disabilities rely on Medicare for their health coverage. Medicare is a critical piece of wellness and financial stability for older adults, and a benefit for which they have already paid into the Medicare system. As the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (or SHIP) for Pima County, PCOA is tasked with providing free, unbiased health insurance counseling for our community. We know how complex managing your Medicare and related decisions can be, and also see first-hand some of the shortcomings of the program. Specifically, Medicare does not cover in-home care for people who are unable to live independently, but do not have an acute condition requiring skilled medical services.
For example, people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias living in nursing homes would not have their residential bills covered by Medicare. However, if they suffered a heart attack, or came down with pneumonia, Medicare would cover medical expenses. Medicare also doesn’t cover anything “from the neck up” – including dental, vision, and hearing. Even with Medicare coverage, healthcare can be costly. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study published last year, the average Medicare beneficiary paid $5,503 in healthcare costs in 2013, and costs have surely risen in the years since. Those costs included monthly premiums, as well as services such as long-term care, eyeglasses or contact lenses, hearing aids and dental work, which are not covered by Medicare. Periodically, we see policy proposals from Congress that might potentially change or weaken Medicare, including several in recent years. During this open enrollment period, as we are thinking about the impact Medicare has on our health and financial security, I encourage
you to talk to your elected officials about the important role Medicare plays in your life. If you are a Medicare recipient, your personal story can have tremendous impact on how those representing you in government think about this issue. Visit advocate.pcoa.org to easily share your thoughts about the importance of maintaining Medicare for older adults and those with long-term disabilities. I also encourage you to be vigilant about your Medicare, review your statements and stay alert for signs of fraud. Lastly, remember that PCOA’s excellent staff and certified volunteers are here to assist you, during this critical open enrollment period and year-round with your plan, claims issues, or fraud. Call our Helpline to learn more about services available to you.
W. Mark Clark President & CEO
October 2019, Never Too Late | Page 3
Pima Council on Aging
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