Medicare has been a lifeline for millions since its inception in 1965, but threats and uncertainties persist. To determine candidates’ views on Medicare, voters should monitor their statements and the positions they have taken. This is especially important in the 2020 elections, as recent years have seen legislative and regulatory efforts to rework the program, often in ways that would undermine beneficiary protections.
For 2020, voters should pay close attention to candidates’ statements about Medicaid, including their vision for the future of the program. To help voters weigh in, this document outlines a few proposals to keep an eye out for that could transform the program for the worse.
In 2018-2019, Medicare Rights staff and volunteers addressed more than 37,000 questions and issues through the organization’s national helpline. In addition, Medicare Rights’ free and independent online reference tool Medicare Interactive, designed to help older adults and people with disabilities navigate the complex world of health insurance, answered 6.1 million questions for people with Medicare, their caregivers, and professionals. This report will feature select helpline trends and highlight the most commonly sought Medicare Interactive answers, providing a glimpse into the information and coverage needs of Medicare beneficiaries and their families.
Medicare’s Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program (also called “Extra Help”) can be a lifeline, helping low- and moderate-income beneficiaries pay for coverage they would not otherwise be able to afford. But aspects of the program are woefully outdated, making it difficult for low- and moderate-income beneficiaries to access the help they […]
The Medicare Rights Center is a New York-based, national advocacy organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities. With 30 years of experience working with beneficiaries, families, and professionals, Medicare Rights possesses specialized knowledge about the barriers people with Medicare face […]
Reforms to the Part D appeals process are long overdue, a need made ever-more urgent by a growing Medicare-eligible population, the increased use of utilization management strategies by plans, and ongoing efforts to tackle high and rising prescription drug prices—all of which could push more beneficiaries into this broken system. […]
The Medicare Part D appeals process is an essential safety valve that allows older adults and people with disabilities to access and afford needed prescriptions. However, complexities in the current system can make it difficult for beneficiaries to obtain the relief they need. On Medicare Rights’ National Consumer Helpline, we […]
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strengthened Medicare and Medicaid and created important coverage avenues and consumer protections for people of all ages. Despite these successes, the health law remains under attack in Congress, the states, and the courts.
In 2017, Medicare Rights staff and volunteers addressed more than 15,000 questions and issues through the organization’s national helpline. In addition, over 2.8 million questions were answered for people with Medicare, their caregivers, and professionals serving them through Medicare Interactive, Medicare Rights’ free and independent online reference tool thoughtfully designed to help older adults and people with disabilities navigate the complex world of health insurance. This report will feature select helpline trends and highlight the most commonly searched for Medicare Interactive answers, providing a glimpse into the information and coverage needs of Medicare beneficiaries and their families.
In 2016, the Medicare Rights Center’s (Medicare Rights) staff and helpline volunteers fielded more than 16,758 questions and issues through the organization’s National Consumer Helpline. Clients included Medicare beneficiaries, families, and caregivers across the country. As in previous years, clients were geographically and socioeconomically diverse, and needed help with a wide array of complex Medicare-related issues.
