Many older adults qualify for Medicare assistance – but don’t know how to get it

By Dennis Archambault

Nearly half of the older households in the United States have no savings or other financial assets and most lack the financial support to withstand a significant economic shock, according to the National Council on Aging.  This is an alarming statistic for community health providers: financial security is a critical social determinant of health. It affects food security, transportation, security, and the ability to pay the costs not covered by Medicare.

However, there is a way of offsetting some Medicare costs to low-income seniors: Medicare Savings Programs and Low-Income Subsidy. Together, they can save beneficiaries as much as $8,400 annually on Medicare premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs, according to the Medicare Rights Center, a consumer advocacy and policy organization.

The problem, as with many benefits available to vulnerable populations, few know about them or how to access them. And even then, it often takes an enrollment counselor to help. That’s a function that Authority Health has provided for several years through its enrollment and navigation services. Michele Adams Calloway, Community Benefits Manager at Authority Health, spends much of her time meeting with seniors at apartments and in their homes to help connect them with helpful benefits. For more information, contact Calloway at 313-871-3751 or mcalloway@authorityhealth.org.

Open enrollment for Medicare begins on Oct. 15 and ends until Dec. 7. AARP offers a good backgrounder on Medicare for those interested.

Dennis Archambault is vice president of Public Affairs for Authority Health