Perspective               

People Have Trouble Accessing Medicare Savings Programs

A recent study done by the Medicare Rights Center (MRC) tracked people with Medicare in New York City as they tried to enroll in Medicare Savings Programs, government programs that assist people with low-incomes in paying for their health care costs. Nationally, only slightly more than half of all people eligible for these programs are enrolled in them. But these programs can save people more than $600 a year in Medicare premiums, coinsurance, and deductibles.

The study found that people faced barriers to enrolling in Medicare Savings Programs for several reasons. MRC learned that those who were eligible found the Medicare Savings Programs confusing and the application process difficult. MRC also found that people were often reluctant to apply for the programs at a Medicaid office. Medicaid branch office staff frequently provided incorrect information to applicants about the Medicare Savings Programs, and incorrectly processed applications. In addition, consumers and advocates were unable to track an application as it moved through the processing system and had difficulty learning the status of an application. Finally, the MRC study found that many local and state government staff charged with administering the Medicare Savings Programs were unclear about how it works.

MRC recommended both federal-level reforms and New York State/City-specific reforms to improve how the Medicare Savings Programs are administered. The report recommended the Social Security Administration should administer the Medicare Savings Programs, instead of the many government agencies that administer it now. Having multiple government agencies involved in administering the programs creates an inefficient structure.

MRC said that reforms on the state level should include the education of government officials about how the program works, the creation of an avenue for consumers to follow up on the status of their application, the development of one computer system for the programs for the entire state, the creation of a simpler application form, the elimination of the face-to-face interview requirement for all counties in New York State, and the creation of a computer-based system for local Medicaid branch staff to enter data.

If you have any questions about the Medicare Savings Programs, call 1-800-MEDICARE, that's 1-800-633-4227. You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. The number is listed in Medicare & You.

_________________________________