Medicare is not free. And many low-income older adults rely on extra help to afford doctor visits, prescription drugs, and other essential benefits.  

Yet millions of adults 65+ who are eligible are not receiving this extra help. That’s why NCOA and other organizations are pressing for continued federal support for low-income beneficiary outreach and enrollment efforts.

Federal outreach and enrollment, originally authorized under the 2008 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), connect low-income beneficiaries—many who are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid—with assistance for prescription drug coverage and other essential Medicare benefits. 

The letter sent on behalf of NCOA and 100 other organizations calls on lawmakers to pass the Senior Savings Protection Act (S. 2466/H.R. 6210), which would provide a five-year reauthorization of the vital funding first established under MIPPA.

As the letter reminds House and Senate leaders:

With high medical expenses and cost-of-living adjustments that fail to keep pace, those living on fixed incomes...rely on MIPPA-funded programs as a lifeline to maintain their health and independence."

"The modest yearly federal investment in MIPPA delivers meaningful results for both older adults and their communities. Since 2008, the program has helped millions of low-income beneficiaries and their families access vital assistance," the letter reads. "During the last federal fiscal year, 4.7 million lower-income older adults learned about programs that make Medicare more affordable. By helping beneficiaries access the support they’re eligible for, this investment enables older adults to stay healthy, avoid costly hospital stays, afford essentials, and drive spending back into local economies."

NCOA and the other organizations are advocating for passage of the Senior Savings Protection Act, which was introduced by Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in the Senate, and Reps. Doris Matsui, D-Calif., Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., and Angie Craig, D-Minn., in the House of Representatives.

"The Senior Savings Protection Act builds on MIPPA’s 17-year record of bipartisan success. By reauthorizing funding for five years, it will ensure community-based organizations can continue helping older adults and people with disabilities lower their health care costs and access needed medical care."

Read the full letter from NCOA and 100 other national organizations to House and Senate leaders.