At 68, Dora was living on just $430 a month from her husband’s Social Security. Medicare was deducting $165 a month for the Part B premium. That left Dora just $265 a month to cover rent, utilities, food, and all her other daily expenses.

A benefits counselor at the Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York helped Dora apply for Medicare Savings Program, which will save her $1,979 in 2024. The counselor also helped Dora apply for an affordable unit at a senior housing complex. Today, Dora has the support she needs to live with the dignity and security she deserves. 

Thanks to federal funding that supports efforts to find and enroll low-income people on Medicare into benefits they are eligible for, low-income older and disabled adults receive assistance that can help them to afford their prescription drugs and doctor visits. See how this funding helps nationally and in specific states, and how many people are still missing out on benefits they are eligible for. We'll be adding more state fact sheets to this page.

• Nationally, 9.3 million lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 20.5 million Medicare beneficiaries who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level

• In California, 551,137 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 2.4 million Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level
• In Florida, 448,097 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 1.6 million Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Indiana, 301,835 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 377,204 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Iowa, 82,558 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 170,502 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.

• In Kentucky, 142,522 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 350,521 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Louisiana, 112,198 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 359,500 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Massachusetts, 341,567 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 416,261 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Michigan, 168,160 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 602,260 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Missouri, 172,492 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 395,096 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Montana, 34,993 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 68,858 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In New York, 505,633 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In North Carolina, 623,988 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 680,731 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Oklahoma, 135,878 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 251,246 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Pennsylvania, 457,782 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 825,172 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level
• In Washington, 196,819 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 357,955 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
• In Wyoming, 11,283 lower-income older adults were connected to benefits in 2022-2023, but continued federal funding is needed to reach many of the estimated 28,349 Medicare beneficiaries in the state who are living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.