The general election on November 3 could have significant ramifications for many health care programs. State, local, and federal candidates offer various perspectives on what the U.S. system should look like and how programs should be supported or dismantled. Because of its vast importance, health care is always on the ballot.
Missing information is always a problem, but in a year where additional assistance may not be as available as usual, these gaps in reported information from plans present particular challenges.
Policymakers in Washington are continuing to negotiate the details of the next coronavirus response bill. Though such legislation is urgently needed, it remains unclear if a deal can be reached in the coming weeks. Now is the time to make your voice heard!
Each year, during Fall Open Enrollment (October 15 through December 7), people with Medicare have the opportunity to make certain changes to their coverage, including switching prescription drug plans or between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA).
Yesterday, leading Democrats on U.S. House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over Medicare asked the Trump administration for more information on its rumored plan to send $200 “gift cards” to people with Medicare Part D in the coming weeks. The lawmakers also asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the federal agency charged with oversight of such matters, to conduct an expedited review of the project’s legality.
On October 13, the Social Security Administration announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2021 will be 1.3%, which amounts to a modest $20 a month increase for the average retired worker.
The Social Security Administration processes Medicare enrollment applications. During the coronavirus public health emergency, local Social Security offices are closed to the public, but many services are available online and over the phone.
As the number of cases of COVID-19 (also called coronavirus) increases, so does the importance of programs like Medicare in helping older adults, people with disabilities, and their families build and maintain their health and economic security. Accordingly, policymakers are taking critical steps to ensure program preparedness, keep beneficiaries and the public informed, and facilitate timely access to appropriate care.
As a certified elder law attorney, Nancy Rice’s work often intersects with the Medicare Rights Center’s mission of helping people with Medicare understand their rights and benefits. Her practice, Rice & Quattrone, PC, specifically focuses on elder law, estate planning and administration, and guardianships.
In recent months, the Medicare Rights Center has been pursuing urgently needed reforms, seeking to improve the federal coronavirus response and advance the bipartisan Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477/S. 1280).
