The coronavirus public health emergency has created new challenges for everyone, especially older adults and people with chronic health conditions. The Medicare Rights Center has been responding to the needs of people with Medicare and their families without interruption since the pandemic began. Over the last year, thousands of people have turned to Medicare Rights’ national helpline for individual assistance and millions more have found answers to their questions on Medicare Interactive. Thanks to the generous support of donors—made all the more special owing to the year’s many difficulties— Medicare Rights has met the demand for its services over the past year and is starting 2021 strong and ready to serve.  

For Medicare Rights’ 2020 Annual Awards Virtual Event, 300 new and longtime supporters came forward to make donations, purchase sponsorships, and organize peer-to-peer fundraisers. The 2020 theme, “Ready, Reliable, Resilient,” describes Medicare Rights and the entire health and aging services community since the public health emergency began. With generous support from individuals and organizations committed to furthering Medicare Rights’ mission, the annual event—the organization’s biggest fundraiser—raised $350,000. 

Medicare Rights’ 2020 year-end fundraising campaign was also a success, thanks to the generosity of 224 donors. The campaign featured Mr. and Mrs. Quader, a couple with underlying health conditions who Medicare Rights helped to get assistance to pay for their Medicare coverage. The campaign raised over $60,000. Throughout the past year, full of hardship and uncertainty, Medicare Rights’ dedicated supporters have stepped up in unprecedented ways to help older adults and people with disabilities access affordable health care. Medicare Rights’ staff, board, and volunteers are grateful to each and every 2020 contributor.