Health News
State budget cuts are not the only threat to seniors and people with disabilities. Federal reductions may be coming as well.
The US Senate is considering a 42% reduction in funding to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which counsels seniors and people with disabilities on their Medicare health plan options. SHIP funding would drop to a mere $20 million, diminishing the numbers and quality of the SHIP workforce.
SHIP is Necessary Now More than Ever
Every day, 10,000 Americans become eligible for a Medicare system that is increasingly more complex. Medicare beneficiaries pay the price for the confusion:
Poorer Trained, Less Helpful
The federal cuts would compromise SHIP's ability to adequately serve everyone who needs help. One and a half million fewer people would receive assistance. Moreover, most of the SHIP counselors are volunteers who donate almost two million hours of help. Cuts could also result in reduced or compromised volunteer training, which increases the risk of erroneous advice and reduces the quality of services beneficiaries receive.
No Substitute
Those in favor of the cuts claim there are less costly alternatives to SHIP. This is untrue. The materials suggested as substitutes, 1-800 Medicare, Medicare.gov and the Medicare Enrollment Handbook, all list SHIP as a resource for people to use with additional questions. A brochure is no substitute for one-on-one, expert advice.
What You Can Do
Tell your Senator to fight cuts to the SHIP program, that your family, friends, even you personally, benefit from the free services that SHIP counselors provide. It's easy:
Bryce Marable MSW
Health Policy Analyst
Health & Disability Advocates
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Health News
Stay the Course with SHIP
State budget cuts are not the only threat to seniors and people with disabilities. Federal reductions may be coming as well.The US Senate is considering a 42% reduction in funding to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which counsels seniors and people with disabilities on their Medicare health plan options. SHIP funding would drop to a mere $20 million, diminishing the numbers and quality of the SHIP workforce.
SHIP is Necessary Now More than Ever
Every day, 10,000 Americans become eligible for a Medicare system that is increasingly more complex. Medicare beneficiaries pay the price for the confusion:
- 700,000 Medicare are paying the Part B Late Enrollment Penalty because they missed the deadline to sign up,
- Medicare Part D beneficiaries in Low-Income Subsidy are often unaware of lower priced options,
Poorer Trained, Less Helpful
The federal cuts would compromise SHIP's ability to adequately serve everyone who needs help. One and a half million fewer people would receive assistance. Moreover, most of the SHIP counselors are volunteers who donate almost two million hours of help. Cuts could also result in reduced or compromised volunteer training, which increases the risk of erroneous advice and reduces the quality of services beneficiaries receive.
No Substitute
Those in favor of the cuts claim there are less costly alternatives to SHIP. This is untrue. The materials suggested as substitutes, 1-800 Medicare, Medicare.gov and the Medicare Enrollment Handbook, all list SHIP as a resource for people to use with additional questions. A brochure is no substitute for one-on-one, expert advice.
What You Can Do
Tell your Senator to fight cuts to the SHIP program, that your family, friends, even you personally, benefit from the free services that SHIP counselors provide. It's easy:
- Send our Senators this model letter drafted by the National Council on Aging. Just copy and paste the text into their contact forms: Sen. Kirk's form Sen. Durbin's form (remember to sign your name!)
- Tweet your advocacy with this graphic we created ? and tag @SenatorKirk @SenatorDurbin
- Feel free to personalize with your story, or the story of loved ones. Personal stories make a difference!
Bryce Marable MSW
Health Policy Analyst
Health & Disability Advocates
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The federal health reform law has saved seniors and the disabled millions of dollars on their Medicare prescription-drug coverage, says the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS said 65,040 Kentuckians have saved a total of $60.4 million in...
- If You Have Medicare, No Need To Go To Insurance Marketplaces
BULLETIN TODAY | PERSONAL HEALTHBy Susan Jaffe, Kaiser Health News. This story produced in collaboration with USA Today. This post is courtesy of AARP's blog. While the Obama administration is stepping up efforts...
- The Affordable Care Act Will Not Replace Illinois Cares Rx
Illinois Cares Rx is one of the many health programs on the chopping block in Governor Quinn's Medicaid budget plan. This will affect 160,000 low income seniors and people with disabilities who receive Illinois Cares Rx to help them pay for life-saving...
- Medicare Improving Fast
There is an intense debate over Rep. Paul Ryan?s (R. WI) proposal to scrap Medicare and turn it into a voucher program shifting costs to seniors, a debate that became even more intense when it was passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives....
- Why We Must Save Illinois Cares Rx
Governor Quinn's proposed budget includes the elimination of the entire Illinois Cares Rx program, which provides prescription drug assistance to low income seniors and people with disabilities. The benefits of the Illinois Cares Rx Program to its...